In Boston, our subway system updated to electronic swipe cards several years ago. When I was in college, the fare was 85 cents which held unchanged for years. The Kingston Trio rightfully decried taxation, but griping about transit is never on my list of things to do. I still have many of the old tokens which are destined to become cufflinks at some point.
If Charlie, who was named after the old song Charlie and the MTA (I was required to not only memorize the lyrics, but be able to sing them as a child... true story) is the quintessential T rider, I think we might be in good shape. Notice his suit's beautifully pressed pants with hefty cuffs, two-button jacket, and button-down collar. For some reason, he has contrasting buttons on the collar, but no matter, he's still well put together. He also travels with a hat and apparently a positive attitude and a predisposition for favorably rating that which surrounds him.
Since our business districts are still very formal (especially the financial and legal sectors), it's no surprise Charlie is well dressed. When he goes casual, all may be lost. Stay well-dressed, Charlie.
If only the average London Underground rider was that well turned-out.
ReplyDeleteThat said, he does appear to have the bottom button of his jacket done up - a pet peeve ;)
The bottom button tradition was popularized by Edward VII, whose gradual corpulence prevented the full closure of the suit. It seems to me that an American like Charlie should be free to flaunt that rule if the cut of his jacket allows it, which his indeed seems to do.
Delete*Jake: Most in Boston are student-casual and across the river, it's either hipster or nerd or Ivy League.
Delete*Plum: A certain Fed friend of ours (last initial "P") enjoys buttoning ONLY the bottom button at times. He enjoys being a contrarian at times, which might be why you and I get along with him so well.
The cleanliness and happy disposition are strong indications that Charlie is not a frequent traveller of the Orange line.
ReplyDelete*Phillip: I use all the lines. I blame cleanliness and rudeness on ridership.
DeleteI never understood why Charlie's wife, instead of going down to the Scollay Sq. (Govn't Centerish for those unfamiliar with the city and its history) with a sandwich every day, didn't just give him the balance of the fare.
ReplyDelete*Randall: I once asked my father that same question. His response: "The song would only be 30 seconds long."
DeleteI've been listening to and singing that song for almost 50 years, and yet I've never wondered why Charlie's wife didn't pitch him a nickel!
DeleteYour post brought back memories of living in Boston for a short time after I graduated college to do some work at the MFA. I depended on the MTA to travel between Waban and The Fens, and learned some peculiarities of the system, such as that subways and buses were free in certain directions, so that by planning your route, you could go many places without paying fares.
ReplyDeleteNot all riders were as natty as Charlie. I recall a disreputable-looking old man (the word 'outpatient' springs to mind) who used to sit on the bus with a cane and lift the skirts of young women as they walked by. Oddly, they didn't seem to mind; they just adjusted their clothing and moved to a different area.
Since vehicular travel in Boston apparently always had its hazards, it is worth noting what a great walking city it is, with so many parks (including the Commons) and historical buildings everywhere. I also remember all the beautiful walks in the Newton area.
--Road to Parnassus
*Parnassus: Waban is a fine area. I hope to someday be that old guy you described.
DeleteCould the "colored buttons" on the color, instead be a collar pin?
ReplyDeletePerhaps you aren't old enough to remember/know about such things.
They were usually made of gold or sterling and were a straight bar with unscrewable balls at either end. Their function was to keep the tie in place and/or the collar snug at the neck, I think.
My wife and I lived in Boston during the transition from tokens to the Charlie Card. One day she looked at me and asked why did they name the card the "Charlie" card. So I had to explain to her the provenance and because I'm a folk music fan she was also treated to renditions of, "The Ship That Never Returned" and, "The Wreck of the Old 97" I used to love listening to the Johnny Cash San Quentin Prison version of the Old 97 while riding the green line between Copley and Coolidge Corner. Whooo Whooo
ReplyDelete