The reference is to the top of the Fifth avenue buses, and the heart of the matter is tobacco. Henceforth it is not to be the open top, nor quite the closed top, but a sort of semi-hemi-preferential top with the two left-hand seats and the three right-hand seats open to smokers--if no one else wants them first. The Fifth Avenue Coach Company did not take action until after a plebiscite among its passengers. The opinions of those who ride on the buses because they can smoke on the upper deck, and the opinions of those who object to have smoke, fire, and ashes in their eyes and hair are all set down in a pleasantly written and charmingly printed booklet by the coach company. Ah, yes! As charming and pleasant a pirate booklet as ever scuttled-one of the pleasures of the world!

Is there any use in arguing? There is no use in arguing. Either you smoke and are blessed, or you don't smoke and resort to plebiscites. Suppose smoke, fire and ashes do get into non-smokers' eyes? Where there is smoke there must naturally be fire, cinders, grit, stains on the table cloth, pipe cleaners on the piano, matches in the bread box, and ashes everywhere. They are the cloud of glory the smoker trails after him. They are the outer and visible signs of an inner peace beyond description. And now--

Well, five seats are better than none. As good citizens, we submit in the interests of the wider, if not the larger, good. --New York Evening Post.