Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1866-02-19


of these on the other, as may be suppc
ed, but rather in thousand little thing
Many, who have excellent common.sens
in some things, and even talent, max
themselves unacceptable to their friend
on account of uncouth habits. There
no criminality in being awkward, but
Is a great inconvenience, at least woul
be, if the man knew it. In brief perio
one may see great many things tbs
excite his pity or awaken his DISCUS
We know q person of wealth who goes /
church early, and assure to take ont hi
knife and cut and clean his fnger-nail
before services commences. We kno,
: another, who has CLASSICAL education
who In church uses his tooth-pick, no
because his teeth need picking, but sim
ply to keep himself occupied, as out
would twirl his watch-key, or as a lad
would toy with her fan.
Now tooth-picking associations are 81
bad as nail cleaning. Bat we would
rather see person clean his nails, even
In company, than to see g black streak
under each finger nail on a lady's hand
that flashed with diamond rings; but we
read in Scripture of the jewel being in
an unfit place, and why should they not
be in modern times2
Some young men whistle in ferry
boat or a street-car, and we have noticed
nine times out OF ten, hat the fools
who practice this are deficient in must
cal talent, and are not aware that they
are chahng The nerves of every listener
fxvr L. IL
second, with the rawness of the practice
of perpetrsting music on people without
any invitation and without their consent.
Drumming with the fingers or with the
feet, making unnecessary noise, among
some people who are nervous, render
the society Of persons who thoughtle.sly
perpetrate these petty rudenesses almost
insuferable. We are aware that these
habits often originate in diffiderce. The
person feels nervous, and does not know
exactly what to do but to practice this
drumming as a kind of outlet or scape-
goat to nervousness WelI-bred people
may do this, but it is no sign of good
breeding, and is priaaa facie evidence 'ol
ill-breeding.
Sprawling tie feet and legs in CON-
pany as another common and very inn
proper practice II is an American
habit, known and observed by the rule Of
putting the feet as high as the head, or
higher. Passing by hotels in New YorE,
Boston, or Philadelphia, one sees in a
single window perhaps four pairs of feet,
and we have seen protruding form third
story window pair of feet and foot of
leg attached to each.
1t is regarded in England as an offense
against good taste to show the bottom of
the shoe in company, and therefore
tEnglishmen are not likely TO so sit as to
exhibit TIE bottom of the foot, much less
rest the foot on the knee; but go into a
company Of ten or twenty American men,
and see what awkward adjustment the
men present With their feet and legs, and
we ask no ssyerer criticism than that
will gige on this bad habit
Another bad practice in company, or
any where, is to lean back against the
wall, and hoist the feet on the round OF
the chair, If it have one. We have seen
mary mahogany or rosewood chair
broken off at the back, by heavy louis
leaning back on the two hind legs-but
we beg pardon for having been caught
in such company. II the habit were n OF
uncouth, and if the chair did not break,
it would mar the wall.
Lounging on sofas, and sitting, as
some gentlemen do, on the small of the
back, is very rude. If a man wishes to
recline on the sofa, let him lay himself
down, and gather up his feet, as if he
were composing himself to sleep, or as if
he were drunk; but this sprawIing, loung-
ing ami leaning, is execrable.
Picking the nose in company, or using
the handkerchief unnecessarily or osten-
taneously, and especially looking at it
after it has been used, need not be con-
demned--the very mention of it is
enough.
Persons frequently work at the ears
before folks" Ee remember, when a
child, seeing a woman in church put her
I little finger in her ear, elevate her elbow,
and give it one grand shaking; but
though it was before the days of daguer-
lreotypes, it was thoroughly daguerreo-
typed on our memory.
Hawking, splitting, and clearing the
throat may sometimes be necessary, even
in public, but it should be done as quietly
as possible, with the handkerchief to the
mouth. Yawning, stretching, putting
the hands in the pockets, it will do for
little boys with their first pockets; but
when we see men in the pulpit, or on the
platform, thrust their hands in their
iltrowsers pocket, we can not say it is a
sin, but it 10 an uncouth habit.
4 Playing with the pocket-knife, jingling
keys and loose change, are in very bad
taste. Looking at the watch in an open
way makes one thing person wishes tc
make display of that valuable article.
Tt is considered ill-manners to look al
ones watch in company, but we nov
speak of public places, concerts, church
etc, and net private society. One may
take a peep at his watch in public
places, if he does it quietly, not to attract
attention, and it is allowable. LouC
talking is very rude on the ferry-boat, il
llrailwaY-cars, at church, in the lecture OF
concert-room, before the services com
mence, and detestable afterward Little
parties should keep their personal con
versation 10 themselves. Nothing, VIZ
think, shows good breeding more thar
q quiet manner, mellow voice, snS
that decorousness and gentleness whicl
accompany that style Of speech.
One more very common and very an
noying habit may be named, and that il
not going when one starts, but standin
in the open door. Many cold has bee
taken by the patient lady of the hons
with nothing on for protection, bein
detained by gossiping friend, some
times ten minutes, to hear last words an
confidential communications; talkin
thus in the noise and roar of the stree
necessitates loud talking, and sometime
the most confidential things are heart
all over the house, and even across tn
street.
We remember, in particularly, tamil
that lived next door to us. The younJ
ladies would stand on the steps and tell
sometimes ten minutes, and we wer
obliged to go away from our open par
lor windows, or hear all their arrange
ments and confidential conversations
and, forgive us for saying it, we hav
seen some people make display on th
steps on purpose, as we thought, to a
tract attention from people across the Wa
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