TEE RULE OF TEE BO AD 53 



Thus not only right-handedness in the vast majority of people, but 

 with it right-eyedness, etc., firmly fixed and differentiated, comes down 

 to the beginnings of civilization. But this is far from implying that 

 in meeting, either two or thousands of people invariably passed each 

 other to the right. This is proved by the classical instance given by 

 Dante in the eighteenth Canto of the Inferno in these words — trans- 

 lation of Longfellow: 



Even as the Romans, for the mighty host, 



The year of Jubilee, upon the bridge, 



Have chosen a mode to pass the people over; 

 For all upon one side upon the Castle 



Their faces have, and go unto St. Peter's; 



On the other side they go unto the mountain. 



Not only was the Papal order necessary to make the crowd keep to 

 the right in coming and going, but a barrier was erected along the 

 middle of the bridge so that the crowd could not interfere with one an- 

 other. Further particulars are given in Longfellow's note to the pas- 

 sage, and by other commentators of Dante. In our own times the 

 custom of foot-passengers is more firmly established, " As was well 

 illustrated recently in the Paris Exhibition in the case of the two 

 large wooden bridges erected opposite the Trocadero to convey foot- 

 passengers over the roadway. Here, although for what reason was 

 not apparent, the authorities commanded the people to pass over the 

 bridges to the left, instead of, as in the case of other bridges in the same 

 exhibition, to the right. After crossing the bridges the majority of 

 the crowd would be seen bearing to the right, causing endless pushing 

 in crowded days." But that many, especially women and children, 

 are to-day reckless of the rule, is illustrated in the crowded side-walks 

 of American cities. 



Whenever, and that was generally, the custom and rule of orderly 

 government was established by military usage, the ancient and per- 

 sistent habit of passing to the right arose naturally from the necessity 

 of keeping the enemy on the left side. This was the shielded side and 

 gave combatants greater safety, as well as insured greater freedom and 

 efficiency for the aggressive right arm and hand. 



The crux of the difficulty in explaining divergent usage is en- 

 countered by the strange seeming anomaly of English practise. 

 Wherever English usage obtains, the carriages and horsemen pass to 

 the left, although foot-passengers pass to the right. That the foot- 

 passengers keep to the right is natural, because it was derived from 

 ages of military precedent. But another and overlooked fact doubtless 

 contributed to prevent the English walkers from adopting the wagoner's 

 rule of passing to the left. This was the growth of town and of city 

 life. All urban life was conditioned by narrow streets, so narrow 



