The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-06-11
From the Presbyterian Quarterly.l
SOCIAL LIFE III AMERICA.

When we come to speak of the mani
Tested capacities of courteous and ele-
waited society, there is one trait which
will occur to every one. We have at
taired beyond any people on the face Of
the earth in courtesy tolcards aConlsn
There are two characteristics of this
which are Of the highest promise. The
first is akin to our great political idea,
that man is valuable as man, all being
politically equal. It is that woman is
to be treated courteously as woman.
Abroad, ladies of rank or family or
81 calth are treated with Difference, but
all Americans are shocked with the neg
luct of women who have no such claims
"a distinction. We quote q line or two
7 -se..;:ll eel you where
have been put in mind of two Of the
finest gentlemen books bring US any
mention of; here, in your own omnibus
carriages and railway cars, when have
seen woman step in, handsome or not,
well dressed or not, and a workman in
hob-nail shoes, or dandy in the height
of fashion, rise up and give her his place
1 think Mr.. Spectator, with his short
face, if he had seen such a deed of
courtesy, would have smiled a sweet
smile to the doer of that gentleman like
action, and have made him low bow
from under his great periwig. I am
sure Dick Steele would have hailed him,
were he dandy or mechanic" etc.
This extract introduces the other
characteristic Of Americans. Not only
is eUery woman treated as a lady be-
cause she is woman, but this is done
by eVery American. 1t is not especial
ly characteristic of city or country, of
cultivation or want of cultivation, of
the old. States or the new; wherever
there is woman who behaves modes-ly,
from the one ocean to the other, she has
protector in every American she meets
This is exceedingly beautiful It de-
serves more eulogy than it has ever at
tanned. The world has never seen any
thing l. Ike it, For observe one sign of
its deep beauty and significance. In
the masses it is an unconscious graos
aud excellence. Two-thirds of the men
who will put themselves to the most gen.
erous Inconvenience for any woman what
ever, just because she is a woman would
hardly understand compliment upon
the matter. 1t is thing of course, like
kindness to parent, or taking child
out-cf danger. The American simply |
feels man who will not consult wo-
mans comfort in preference to his OVID,
is simply brute; and SO the whole
thing lies in 4 nutshell.
This is foundation of immeasurable
hope. No people in any one thing, ever
came socially so near the millennium.
If men could only take another step in
this direction, and manifest little more
politeness towards each other 1t is OBJ
|
ent principle here comes in-the sturdi-
ness, vigor and self-help characteristic
If our race. Men they think, if they are
worth anything, can take care of them
If they have any business
With each other, they may as we'll be
,ivil; but what is the use of perpetual
,owing and smiling, and shaking hands
md taking off of hats? A great deal
# use in it we say. It promotes good
ceiling, makes us all better and happier,
md, if practiced, it would tend power
ully to make the great Anglo American
ace gentlemen externally, as well as in
ernally.
To this, as people, we have not at I
aimed. Our manners, as whole, are I
ad. There is hundred times the
:indness that appears on the surface, a I
housand times more courtesy in mems 1