Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-02-24
/" Handles.O

"HANDLAe, boys! A0~dts i" our dear.
polite, gentlemanly grandpa used to cry
when his grandsons came rushing noid1y
into his presence asking hvors, making
remarks, and replying 70 questions, leAv-
ing out the little, very important words
.ssrs" . ne'em.a. q yes pleas" znssk
Not reply could DO gained from grand
pa, no matter how pressing the case, tin
the hand1bs were applied to the sentences
II six boys had been waiting to start on Q
fishing expedition, II . new kite was lust
ready to be launched, II brass band, and
procession Of Gagged wild beasts, had bean
passing the door, not even the elephant
could move him to reply to string Of
sentences without handles, uttered By q
boy with his hat on his head and his hands
in his pockets.
As consequence, the boys about grand
pa grew civil and polite. They learned to
stand aside, and let lady enter door be-
fore them they ceased to interrupt COM
versation, or monopolize the easy chairs
and pleasantest seats in the windows, 20
priced by the old, who cannot walk out 70
see the out-d0or sights. Az they sat about
the evening Preside with their books and
games, they became IN ornament instead
by those who do not view their actions
With q loving mothers partial eve.
Grandpa, with his sanity spirit and
courtly manners, has gone to his reward.
With his generation have passed away our
" gentlemen of the old school" who obey
ed the command. Be COURTEOUS" "YeaI
ma'am," and " No, ma'am," have become
antique phrases; and Q half-spOken
t" Yes'm" and Nom, . shake ofthe head,
q nod, or nothing ct al, has taken their
place. A group Of boys standing by tho
roadside district schoolhouse, with hats
of, making . polite salutation TO passers-
by, a. was the custom in ancient New
England days, would be more wonderful
sight to behold than the children who
Knocked the hoary.hsaded prophet Of God,
and were devourcd by the bears
! don't know how grandpa could a.
dure Il, II he was alive, TO hear tho sort
of insrticulate sounds, perhaps intended
for lymph un,ph," that procsed from the
mouths, without opening the lips, of our
young people nowadays In place Of tho
absolute EYES, mA'am." It tries my love
and patience severely.
This now code Of manners may DO q
" modern improvement" but I fail TO see
ito beauty or utility. A polite, respectful
boy can never, by any freak Of fashion,
be transformed into anything but beam
tiful sight. Satan favors the modern sys-
tenn of calling parents and guardians "Old
fogies," "plsyed out" mot up to tho
times" because he knows they want -
make boys manly, pure, and true; and 10
10 trying 70 have them disrespectfll, bold,
and regardless of the feelings of those
who are given them BY God to guide than
in the paths Of wisdom.
They cay "fhshions como around every
seven years" This II encouraging. I
hope the readers Of this paper viii not
wait for polite children 70 come In fhahion;
but, when they ind themselves acting
rudely, win remember grandpaS CRY,
" Handgss, 60ys, handgSs ~
I once, in passing by, gave . little boy
On apple. What do you think no aaidl
Ofoourse," you win reply, "he raised
his cap, and said, Thank you" ] blush
to tell what his reply was-a stare, and
the exclamation, Bully for you r
Boys, b eovrtsous. You win never b
at for any position Of power or influence
In our land unless you learn 70 use tho
handles. Our country r. growing very
large; and We shall want some noble
men for Presidents, Governors and Cah&-
net members twenty years henOe. 11opo
aliew boys ct least, win cling to od.haA-
toned, respectful ways, such - George
Washington pSacticed, and b ready Sbe
elevation to these high .podtiona -0ris-
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