s, is
the now famous reply Thomas Edison once made to the stranger who asked
him with what he mixed his paints in order to get such marvellous
effects. "One part inspiration," replied the great inventor, "and NINE
parts perspiration." In other words, etiquette is not so much a matter
of "genius" as of steady application to small details.

TRAVELLING BY RAIL

In America much of the travelling is done by "rail." The etiquette of
railroad behavior is extremely complicated, especially if one is forced
to spend the night en route (on the way) and many and ludicrous are the
mistakes made by those whose social training has apparently fitted them
more for a freight car than for an up-to-date "parlor" or "Pullman"
coach.

GOOD FORM ON A STREET CAR

Let us, first of all, however, take up some of the simpler forms of rail
transportation, such as, for example, the electric street or "tram" car
now to be seen on the main highways and byways of all our larger cities.
The rules governing behavior on these vehicles often appear at first
quite complicated, but when one has learned the "ropes," as they say in
the Navy, one should have no difficulty.

An elderly lady with a closed umbrella, for example, desiring to take
a street car, should always stand directly under a large sign marked
"Street Cars Do Not Stop On This Corner." As the car approaches she
should run quickly out to the car tracks and signal violently to the
motorman with the umbrella. As the car whizzes past without stopping she
should cease signalling, remark "Well I'll be God damned!" and return
to the curbstone. After this performance has been repeated with three
successive cars she should then walk slowly out and lie down, in a
dignified manner, across the car tracks. In nine cases out of ten
the motorman of the next "tram" will see her lying there and will be
gentleman enough to stop his car.

When this happens the elderly lady should get quietly up from the street
and stand outside the door marked "Exit Only" until the motorman opens
it for her. She should then enter with the remark, "I signalled to three
cars and not one of them stopped," to which the motorman will reply,
"But, lady, that sign there says they don't stop on this corner." The
lady should then say "What's your number--I'm going to report you."

After taking his number she should enter the car. At the opposite end
of the vehicle there will undoubtedly be three or four vacant seats;
instead o