CHIVALRY ON CARS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1422, 24 April 1912, Page 4

CHIVALRY ON CARS.

GIVE UP ONE'S SEAT OR NOT? The Rev. E. 0. Blamires writes:—"A brief report of some words spoken by mo on Sunday evening on the question of chivalry in tramcars has led to my receiving a very courteous inquiry as to what a man's iluty should bo in such circumstances as the following:—

"An aged man rises at 5 a.m., lias to go several miles to work, is standing all day, boards tho tramcar at Lambton Station on his return when tho car is empty, but finds that tho car fills with girls and young women nt Veitch and Allan's corner.

"The questioner wonders if he is lacking in chivalry in hot offering his seat to a lady when ho is tired out, and many of tho "ladies havo been seated all day.

As the question is one which might be viewed as typical on tho part of tlioso who would find exceptions to the law of chivalry for which I was pleading, may I claim space to answer it in your columns. ...

I have replied to my friend, telling him it is his duty to keep his seat all tho way under the circumstances ho mentions. My remarks were for general, rather than particular and exceptional application. One recognises (hero are exceptions to every rule, and tho duty implied in a man offering his seat to a lady is often annulled by tho duty of the lady to graciously rofuso if. especially if she be one who has been sealed all (fay, mid (lie offer come from a man of considerable age. The-remarks reported in your colmuns of Monday were made because of the constant sight of boys retaining their seats in the presence of elderly ladies, and the desire to sec the gentler sex (rented with courteous chivalry by men. Emphasis is needed (o reveal how often this low of chivalry is broken, and tho exceptional cose notwithstanding, we of the sterner sex can keep the law not-with-sittiug."