BEARS AND LYONS.

Mr. Punch has been very much excited by reading in a Lyons journal that the authorities of that city have devised a new method of allaying the impertinence of the Cabman. The city of weavers has woven, for that enemy of mankind, and chiefly womankind, a net, from whose meshes he cannot easily escape.

In London, as most people know, we have a cab-law, which works pretty well for able-bodied and strong-nerved Fares who have plenty of time on their hands. If you have complaint against a driver, and you take his number, and find out the right Magistrate before whom to bring him, and take out a summons, and attend on ever so many adjournments, and bring your witnesses, and resist the abject importunities which the ruffian, driver to bay, makes for forgiveness, on account of his wives and children, you may at last get him slightly fined and mildly rebuked. But if you don’t care about doing all this, if your time is valuable, if you are an unprotected lady, or indeed any lady without most admirable firmness, or if you fail on any of the requisite points, the scoundrel has his triumph,- he extorts more than his fare, and has the additional pleasure of insulting you. And on the dozen chances in his favour the Cabman builds, and in eleven cases out of twelve is the victor.

Moreover, there is a great deal that a Cabman can do that, though it is particularly offensive to his Fare, does not bring his within the mild embrace of the law. He may grumble hugely, though he knows he has been overpaid. He may abstain from actual insolence, but keep up a long remonstrance that is nearly as objectionable. He may say that he would not have taken you had he known he was to have only his bare fare, and that the servant who hailed him for you “said you was good pay.” He may enlarge upon the wetness of the night, or the season of the year, or your being apparently out for a holiday, or a dozen things that have nothing to do with the question, and which – though when they are addressed to a resolute English citizen merely produce a “Well, that then?” or the amplest permission to the would-be extortioner to take the chance of getting the late Don Giovanni as a fare – are pesterous to the quiet, and to women, and usually produce the effect desired, namely, robbery. Yet no Magistrate will notice this, if the offender does not “demand” more than his fare, or is not what is called “insolent” – that is, one who uses language no decent person should hear. So, practically, we are in the Cabman’s power.

But at Lyons, it appears, French tact has encountered him with another weapon. In every can is placed a little letter-pocket. And in every letter-pocket is a little printed form of letter. And the letter is to this effect:-

“This Cab, number 1756, was hired on

day, the of ,at o’clock,

By

Mrs. Blank, who resides at

(Residence in full)

And who makes the following complaint against the Driver

(State your Grievance.)

You are requested to fill up this form, if there be reason, and to drop it, unpaid, into any letter-box.”

It is addressed to the Superintendent of Police Traffic.

Thus, you observe, O Cabman, all the impediments on which you rely are removed. Your power to annoy ceases as the door closes on you, and the law’s power to annoy begins. The letter is examined by a competent person, and if he finds the complaint really frivolous or unjust (and some complaints are so, even in England) there is an end. But if not, orders are passed to the policeman on duty in the complainant’s street, and he ascertains whether all is correct, and the accuser be a respectable person. If so, there comes a little inquiry after you, and perhaps you get a caution – perhaps, if an offence be previously registered against you, a stern lecture – perhaps, too, a little punishment, or a good deal. Anyhow, the knowledge that you can be infallibly got at, at once, must have a marvellous effect in keeping you in order – and Mr. Punch submits to Sir Richard Mayne whether some adaptation of the Lyons system might not be advantageously introduced in rescue of the London Cabman’s Victims.

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