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In fact the silent passengers, staring ahead or at most discreetly checking one another out are indulging in behaviour every bit as human and civilised as social chit chat would be: the tacit agreement to travel collectively (often uncomfortably and in extrordinary intimacy) and yet to do so privately. Our way, the metropolitan way, is a good way. And to confirm it we like to flatter our urbanity by evoking the ingenu, mouth agape, in our streets. In the 1850s Parisian literature relished the idea of 'Indians' improbably in its streets (Les Mohicans de Paris). We have Crocodile Dundee. And while we are charmed at Croc doffing his hat and saying G'day to passers by along Fifth Avenue, but sorry, cobber; it won't do in town.
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