SMOKING IN ’BUSSES.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 173, 28 December 1874, Page 2

SMOKING IN ’BUSSES.

To the Editor of the Globe. Sir, —Can you inform me whether there is any law in force to prevent smoking in omnibusses ? If not, I think it is high time some provision was made, as the practice is becoming too frequent and dangerous. As an illustration of how accidents occur I will simply instance a fact which came under my notice whilst riding inside an omnibus from Sumner on Sunday. Shortly after leaving the hotel at the bridge one of the passengers remarked that “There was a strong smell of lire about the carriage,” no notice, however, was taken of it beyond the fact that the smell of fire was noticed by all inside, but where it was burning no one could tell. Presently smoke was seen issuing from below the silk dress of one of the lady passengers, which, happily for the wearer, was quickly subdued by those around her. The lire, therefore, had been steadily gaining a hold on the dress while nearly two miles were being traversed. Fortunate for the lady it was, that the dress was not of a lighter material, or there is no knowing where the matter might have ended—perhaps in a coroner’s inquest; but instead, the lady in question has got off this time with the loss of a silk dress. Now the question suggests itself that as smoking is strictly prohibited in ordinary railway carriages, should it not also be restricted in omnibus travelling—more particularly inside ? It is all very well to say no gentlemen will smoke in the presence of ladies while travelling, but these so called gentlemen do, as I can testify, whilst you only get laughed at or insulted when you request them to abstain. Cannot our City Council step in and suggest a remedy, if not, the owners of vehicles themselves must enforce rules to prevent this abominable practice of smoking, especially when ladies and children are present. Yours, &c, A PASSENGER.