The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-10-21
GOOD Manners--Their want and In
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lis lo5llsisees $3.50 Gao IA 1873 Ssl7s7i
GOOD Manners--Thetr Wnnt and In.
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nhere are not few who are accustomed
to associate the idea Of politeness with pre-.
tension and Hypocrisy and this erroneou,
opinion exerts an unfortunate influence upon
the manners and social bearing OF millions.
! say unfortunate influence, for the reason
that every cause OF coarseness and yulgarity
deserves to be deeply dcpiorsd.
Few characteristics are worthy OF highe,
estimation than true politeness, dignifed and
genteei department. And that none should
mistake my intention, let me remark that by
the term politeness | mean something far
higher or nobler than may seem to attach to
| the idea. There is much that passes with the
ignorant and dishonest as politeness which
deserves not the name, and should 6nd no
! advocate among sober and intelligent PEG
pie. To bow with grace and smile with
complasance, to assume a manner OF suayi-
ty and kindness which has no benev olence,
no heart in it, to put on the manner Of oour-
teous bearing merely to serve q purpose, and
to lay it aside whenever the occasion which
called it forth has passed by, is the mere
counterfeit Of the manners OF we'll bred and
genteel society. Dancing masters, fops and
flirts may be excused for the practice Of this
spurious style of politeness, but that which
respectable and intelligent people should be
taught in all their schools, is az unlike this
ns gold 10 unlike it's cheapest counterfeit. Il
has its origin in the heart. 1t is the devel-
opement and exercise OF outward manifesto
ton. the practical application OF the royal
law, "Whatsoever We would that men should
do unto you, do We even so unto them" As
we wish others to treat us with kind respect,
showing regard for our feelings and de-
sire for our happiness, SO should be our man
ner toward them. This spirit will ever in
duce genuine courtesy and roliteness, az a
characteristic OF human intercourse. And
the possession and exerrise Of this spirit
among all people would 60 far to induce the
highest social being Of society. Dissension,
strife, bitterness, and numberless other
sources Of misery would seldom arise.
Bat the tendency Of things ut the present
day is not in the direction Of this temper and
tone Of bearing, but decidedly the reverse.
And in this respect, as in regard to health,
there manifestly has been rapid progress in
the wrong direction during the last twenty
years.
Psychologists affirm that the organ OF rev.
erence ia much less prominently developed
upon the orania OF our youth than upon
those of their parents. However this may
be, it requires but little investigation to
make tho discovery that Young America ac-
knowledges no superiors within the circle OF
his acquaintance. lie has heard 80 much
nonsense in regard to tho unparalleled great
ness and glory of the American people, their
wisdom and prowess, their vast and over
~helming superiority to all other nations,
that be has come to the absurd conclusion
that 1--WE are the people, and wisdom will
diewith u.s." And, unfortunately for him,
he has in some way deduced the conclusion
that among all the thirty millions Of wise
men and heroes who make up this great ma
ton, no one is quite so wise and heroic rs
bis own individual self. This elevated self
estimation leads him to take on airs not ut oil
expressive Of respect for the opinions Of
others. TO treat them deferentially would
DO TO treat himself with indignity. This
temper OF necessity leads to coarseness and
rudeness OF bearing, to gross violations OF
all the principles Of true courtesy, Of genuine
politeness.
In regard to this matter the schools Of our
land have not been faultless. The nav race
OF teachers have doubtless done much to fos-
ter this evil. People who are now forty years
Of age very we'll remember, that in their
school days the practice Of poliseness, in
form ut least, was requirement which none
could disregard with impunity. No boy enter
tanned such just and sppreciatiye ideas Of the
virtue there is in the ferulc and rod "a he who
had been guilty Of what tho teacher held to
can infraction Of the rules OF good manners.
when, going or returning from school, the
children met any persons who were their OIL
ders, they ranged themselves in line upon
one side Of the road and made obeisance.-
And when out in the streets during their re-
cess, however vociferously interested in their
pastimes, no traveller made his appearance
whose approach did not cause an immediate
hush OF voices and suspension OF exciting
sports. The tribute Of bow was cheerfully
paid, and not till he had passed beyond their
immediate neighborhood did they resume
their plays. When they entered or left the
school-room, when they retired from the
place # recitation, the bow and the cour-
tesy were the preliminary and finale Of the
performance.
Although this practice, initself considered
was Of little worth, yet, ~ token OF re.
spectfnlness, % sign OF good viii, il was oil
high value. II was an outward manifesto
ton or symbol Of an Inward state or spirit
which it would be we'll for all to possess, and
| which would be assiduously cultured in thu
minds of the young.
But where, in I'll our land, does this good
old practice now prevail? Where are thu
evidences in our children Of the possession Of
that spirit OF kind respect and appropriate
| regard for their superiorsin years and ~is-
doms VINO does MOI sno. ,aaa:. bows aaa
courtesios, on the part Of our boys and girls
are obsolete, both Ia idea and practice, anc
are numbered with the lost arts Of the an
clients? 1t has been remarked that ssthere
arc thousands OF boys in this great country
not one OF whom has ever made bow, un.
less when he had occasion to dodge snow
ball, a brickbAt, or boulder"
Some eight or ten winters since, ex-Gov.
ernor Everett, Of Massachusetts, with the lat,
Amos Lawrence, was 10 . sleigh, riding istt
Boston. Az they approached school hous,
score Of young boys rushed into the stree,
to enjoy their afternoon recess. Said thu
Governor to his friend, ssLet US observ,
whether these boys make Sbeisanoe 70 40, u
We we're taught fifty years ago. Al the sam,
time he expressed tho fear that habits Of oi.
Witty we're Ices practioed than formerly. Al
they passed the school house al question and
doubt upon the snbjset yeseivsd : speedy i