The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-02-23
nonoerning politaneas in Public Places.

Concerning Polteness in Public Places.
1t is really matter of surprise how many
people viii, in public places, be guilty OF con-
duct which they would be very mucn asham-
ed of in their own parlors. Consioeratlon ior
the feelings and convenience OF others, is tne
very essence of good breeding; but large
nronortion OF The people claiming to be Well
bred. never think Of carrying that principe
NTH them into crowd. Perhaps they are
e,orlul of its being lost or damaged. Look
out for number one" is the coarse and selfish
motto which they openly profess to be govern
ed by: and they stretch the rule in practice
till it would seem to imply an entire disregard
of all the rights and privileges of number
two.
Every person in the habit of frequenting
concerts, lectures, and other public gather
ings, has probably been made sufferer in
some way by this class. One of their most
common, and at the same time most annoying
outrages upon other peoples patience, is the
habit of loud whispering and talking. You
90 to concert for which the best talent OF
the country is engaged, and promise yourself
an hour of uualloyed enjoyment; but in the
midst of the softest and most ETHEREAL passage,
when your very pulses seem hushed to listen,
your attention is distracted, your ear tortured,
and your temper exasperated by the senseless
chatter of three or lour young men and girls,
who are giggling and eating peanuts behind
you. Or perhaps it is an enamored pair so
,oo,,o;od ,,,ith oaah afhar,s swaat t1ordo ,af
they have no ear for any other music, no
thought for any human beings except them
selves. To persons in that delightful state OF
mind, we would respectfully suggest that
such little exhibitions of tenderness, however
beautiful in themselves, are not appreciated
by callous and unsympathizing public. A
Irritation decouoert is always bad taste;
when it is allowed to annoy other people 1T is
objectionable.
Another very common practice there is
which deserves no mercy. We allude to the
habit some persons have at concerts, lectures,
&C., OF rising to go out four or FIVE minutes
before the close of the performances. We
have seen at one OF the independent" lee
lures, just as Shaw's admired euartette were
beginning one of their most stirring songs, a
couple, seated in the middle of one of the
long benches 10 the body of the house, rise,
and compel three or four ladies who had come
without escort, to file out into the aisle in or
der to afford them egressl We adviae any la
dy who may be requested to do such thing
as this, to decline, point blank. 1t is an out
rage uponL decency, and should meet on the
spot the rebuke it merits. If you have NOT
sufficient interest in any performance, or suffl.
Gent regard for other peoples enjoyment of 4
to sit still to its close, you have no business
there. Stay away, and leave your seat to be
occupied by some person of better taste OF
more manners. wss
There is one other suggestion, connected
| with lecture going, which we venture on with
some degree of trepidation. Would it not be
we'll enough for ladies, when passing down a
cry person behind cannot be expected to give
his exclusive attention to the point of moi
stepping on their dresses? If ladies will veal
long dresses-and heaven forbid they should
be hindered from so doing if they choose
cannot they be induced to hold them up in
such circumstances as above, and to save
themselves from the imminent risk of broker
nose, and the gentlemen behind them from {
great temptation to profanityp
Most eloquent homilies might be written OF
the shortcomings OF people who ride in horse
cars and rail-cars, but perhaps our reader
have had enough of lecturing for the present
among such readers any of that admirable
class Of persons to whom these remarks d.
net apply, may they live thousand years
and may their shadows never be less.