In 1867, T. Ellwood Zell & Co. published A Guide to the City of Chicago: Its Public Buildings, Places of Amusement, Commercial, Benevolent, And Religious Institutions; Churches, Hotels, Railroads, Etc., Etc. Its 196 pages contains a short history of the city, descriptions of the principal places of interest, a number of beautiful engravings of public buildings, and many pages of fascinating advertisements.
At the very end of the book is some advice for those traveling to Chicago in 1867.
To Travelers
- 1. Purchase your ticket previous to entering the cars, thus saving yourself trouble
and a dime.
2. Check your baggage, thereby avoiding any anxiety or vexation.
3. Have regard for the rights of your fellow-travellers, thereby teaching them by example to respect yours.
4. The fact of any article being deposited in a seat is evidence of the seat having been taken.
5. Always show your ticket (without getting in a bad humor) whenever the conductor asks for it. Observe this rule, and it will pay.
6. Look out for your valise, carpet-bags, &c., (as professional thieves are always around,) especially when the cars stop at a dining station.
7. A gentleman or lady should not occupy more than one seat at a time.
8. Ladies without escort in traveling should be very particular with whom they become acquainted.
9. “If your lips would save from slips,
Five things observe with care:
Of whom you speak, to whom you spoak,
And how, and when, and where.”
10. Whenever you see a fellow overanxious for your comfort, and pushing himself forward, saying, “Are you traveling alone?” “Allow me to/’&c., &c., just say to him,
“Thank you, sir. I require no assistance.” By observing this rule, ladies will often save themselves and others trouble.
11. Never sit in a seat, in warm weather, with a man weighing 244 pounds.
12. Never give information without being asked, then you will not be contradicted.
13. Never let your valise, bag, coat, or any other article, occupy a seat when there is a rack for them. It looks bad for you to occupy a whole seat when there are passengers
standing without seats.
14. Never sit on the end of another person’s seat with your back turned, talking to an opposite party; it is disagreeable to the one whose seat you are thus obtruding yourself on.
15. Never sit beside a person who is hard of hearing, and has never travelled any; get away; there are too many questions to be answered.
16. Never make love in a railroad car; being too affectionate, people will talk.
17. All railroad tickets are GOOD UNTIL USED ; the condition “good for this day only” being of no value, according to judicial decisions.
Great Railway Station at Chicago-Departure of a Train
Appleton’s Journal, 1870
Brilliant!