Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-08-14
Rochester, Vt. July, 1855.
Social Life in America.

DEAN SWIFT.

Social Life in America.
When we come to speak OF the manifested
capacities of courteous and elevated socl-
ETY., there is one trait which will occur to ev-
cry one. We have attained beyond any peo-
pie on the face of the earth in courtesy to
women. 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 1t is that woman is to be treated
courteously as woman. Abroad, ladies Of
rank, or family, or wealth, are treated with
deferelce, but all Americans are shocked with
the neglect of women who have no such claims
to distinction. We quote line or two from
Thackeray -" | will tell you where have
been put in mind of two OF the finest gentle
men books bring us any mention of; here,
in your own omnibus carriages and railway
cars, when have seen woman step in,
handsome or not, wel.dl essed or not, and o
workman in hob-nal shoes, or dandy in the
height OF fashion, rise up and give her his
place. I think, Mr. Spectator, with his short
face, if he had seen such deed of courtesy,
would have smiled sweet smile to the door
of that gentleman.like action and have made
him low bow from under his great periwig
am sure Dick Steele would have hailed
him, were he dandy or mechanic" etc.
This extract introduces the other charac-
teristic of Americans. Not only is every
woman treated as lady because she is a wo-
man, but this is done by every American. 1t
is not especially characteristic OF city or
country, of cultivation or want Of cultVa.
ton, of the old States or the new wherever
there is woman who behaves modestly,
from the one ocean to the other, she has Il
protector in every American she meets. This
is exceedingly beautiful. 1t deserves more
eulogy than it has attained. The world has
never seen anything like it. For observe
one sign of its deep beauty and significance
In the masses it is an unconscious grace a.
excellence Two-thirds OF the men who will
put themselves to the most generous iucon
venience for any woman whatever, just be-
couse she is woman, would hardly under
stand compliment upon the matter. II il
thing OF course, like kindness to parent
or taking IA child out of danger. Tho Amer
lean simply feels that a man who will no
consult a womans comfort in preference t,
his own. is simply brute and so the who'll
thing lies in nutshell.
This is a foundation of Unreasonable hope
No pc pie in any one thing ever came social
y so near the millennium. If men coul
only take another step in this direction, an,
J manifest little more poiteuess towards eac
other! 1t is obvious, however, that auothe
and different principle here comes nth
surdiness, vigor, and self-help CHARACTERISED
of our race. Men, they think, if they ar
T worth anything, can take care Of themseve,
} If they have any business with each othel
they may as well be civil; but what is tn
use OF perpetual bowing, and smiling. an
shaking hands, and taking off hats? !
great deal Of use in it, we say. 1t promote
S good feeling, makes us all better and happie
Y and, if practiced, would tend powerfully t
f make the great Anglo-Amcrican race, gentle
: men externally as we'll as internally.
y To this, as people, we have not attained
d Our manners, as whole, ale bad. There
d hundred times the kindness that appears
the surface, thousand times more courics
: in mems hears than there is in their actions
and Americans are constantly smotherin
& down good feeling which custom will not a
i low them to express, because it is not consi,
h cred manly. Manners of any elaborate
o are considered, if not deceitful, yet DANCE
y Gus, and it is almost as much as any one
t character for honesty is worth to say the sin
h pie truth in the way of commentator of
G book, a lecture, a speech, or good actio
G While every one, Of course likes to be ho
d estiy praised, the reputation Of Aattcrer,
S Of mere echo Of distinguished man,
amongst the most repulsive things possible
g Americans. Our manners, 10 truth, great
e need amendment, or rather formation. "
c are not so much an ill.manoered as an u
l. hammered race. We get through our bus
n ness and devotion in some kind of straigh
!, forward, awkward fashion, and so that
l. one is knocked down or hurt in days oper
m tions, we feel as if we were safely throu.
1T that twenty-four hours. There is good de
a. of wilfulness in this. Because we can fig
il >bravely, we think we will be as rough as ,
es choose; because deceit is characteristic
III courts and worn-out aristocracies, we dete
mine that We will be blunt; and because Il
is French and Italians often make thensely
IN ridiculous by grimacc, we will make GU
@. selves stiff and disagreeabIe. II will Ia
I'd cave to say" observes Mr.. Thac. era
Ih courteousness can be out of place at
he time and under no flag. A poiteuess a
10 simplicity, truthful manhood, gentle r,
pect and Difference, may be kept as the u
e. bought grace of life and cheap defence
d, mankind, long after its old, artificial distir
8, tions have passed away"