Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1870-02-16
s'Hnmdiess


Handles, boys handlesF' our dear,
polite, gentleman grandpa, used to cry
when his grandsOns came rushing nOis-
lily into his presence, asking favOrs,
making remarks, and replying to ques-
tiOns, leaving out the little, very inn
DOrtant words, "Sir," "Ma'am,n ~ ''If
you please" +" Thank you" +" and Excuse
me-"
Not a reply could be gained from
grandpa, no matter how pressing the
case, till the handles were applied to
the sentences. If six boys had been
waiting to start on fishing expedition,
if a new kite was just ready to be launch
ed, if a brass band, and procession Of
Gagged wild beasts, had been passing the
door, not even the elephant could move
him to reply to a string of sentences
without handles, uttered by a boy with
his hat on his head, and his hands in
his pockets.
AS a consequence, the boys about
grandpa grew civil and polite. They
learned to stand aside, and let a lady
enter a door before them; they ceased
to interrupt conversation, or mOnOp-
olize the easy-chairs and pleasantest
seats in the windows, so priced by the
old, who cannot walk out to zee the out
door sight. AS they sat about the even
ing fireside with their books and games,
they became an ornament instead Of
nuisance, as / have heard boys called by
those who do not view their actions with
a loving mothers partial eye.
Grandpa, with his sanity spirit and
cOurtly manners, has gone to his re-
ward. With his generation have pas
sed away our gentlemen of the old
school" who Obeyed the command tBe
cO1YteOJS.N eyes ma'am" and "NO
ma'am," +" have become antique phrases;
and balf-spOken fFYes'mu and Nom
a shake of the head, q nod, or nothing
at all, has taken their place. A group
of boys standing by the roadside district
school house, with hats off, making a
polite salutatiOn to passers-by, as was
the custom in ancient New England
days, would be a more wonderful sight
to behold than the children who Knocked
the hOaryheaded prophet of God, and
were devOured by the bears.
I don't know how grandpa could en-
dure it, if he was alive, to hear the sort
of inarticulate sounds, perhaps intended
for " UDlph, ar5pb, - that proceeded from
the mouths, without opening the lips,
of our young people, now a-days, in
place of the obsolete ayes, ma'am." It
tries my love and patience severely.
This new code of manners may be q
"mOdern improvement" but ] fail to
see its beauty or utility. A polite, res
pectful boy can never, by any freak of
fashions, be transformed into anything
but a beautiful sight. Satan favOrs the
modern system of calling parents and
guardians ''Old fOgies," 'tplayed Out,n
"nOt up to the times, - because he knows
they want to make boys manly, pure,
and true; and he is trying to have them
disrespectful, bold, and regardless of the
feelings of these who are given them by
God to guide them in the paths of wis
dom.
They say fashions are around every
several years" This is encouraging. I
hope the readers of this paper viii not
wait for polite children to come in fash
ion; but when they find themselves act /
ing rudely, will remember grandpa's
cry, "HandIes, boys, handles P'
once in passing by, gave little boy
an apple. What do you think he said
"Of course" you will reply, che raised
his cap, and said "Thank yOu.n I blush
to tell that his reply Was-a stare, and
the exclamation, ''Bully for youV'
Boys, be courteous. You will never /
be fit for any position of power of in |
fuence in our land unless you learn to |
use the handles. Our country is grow /
ing very large; and we shall want some |
noble men for presidents, governors, !
and cabinet members, twenty years /
hence. I hope a few boys at least will /
cling to Old-fashiOned, respectful ways |
such as George Washington practised, /
and be ready for elevation to these |
high positions Christian Banner.