Smyrna times., 1872-12-04
Good Manners.

Mr.. James Jackson Jarves, in late number
of The Independent, has an exceedingly in uunN
terestihg and well written paper on Fine q q
Manners as a fine Art" 1t is written from II
the stand point of an artist, and relates mainly y
to the aesthetic element III manners. We do a
not propose to criticiSe it, and we allude to it
only to point out and emphasize the distinction .
between good manners and fine manners. A =
manner may be fine without being good and I
good without being fine. It may also be good ..
and fine at the same time. The manner of an
arlstOcrat, who looks down upon every nine
persons In ten whom he may happen to meet,
may be fine, but it is not good. The manner
of Frenchman-a member of the Latin race,
which Mr.. Jarves praiSes-may be fine, but it
! is not good, because it is not based in that pro-
found respect for woman without which all fine
manners exhibited in his intercourse with her
are no better than an insult.
And this brings us to the only point we
choose to make in this article. A catholic love
of humanity, and a genuine respect for its
rights, is the only sound basis for good man
ners. A tender and pure regard for woman,
added to this among men, furnishes all the
spring and impulse necessary for the best and
finest forms of politcness. 1t is not necessary
to go to the Latin peoples, with their tradi-
tlons of art and their aesthetic culture; 1t Is |
not necessary to see countries where classes
| are recognized and manners take the form and
are shaped to the arbitrary rules Of etiquette
it is not necessary to study manuals OF social
usage, or sit at the feet of Mr.. Turveydrop, in
. order to learn good manners, provided a man
S thoroughly respect his fellow, and find himself
! possessed OF that sentiment toward woman
q which makes her his ideal and his idol. With
q out this respect and this love, there is nothing
l. more hollow and worthless than fine manners.
It They become, in this case, simply the disguise
e7 of an egoist more or less base and contempti-
"a BILE.
. We know that it is quite common to attri-
In butte fine manners to the Latin peoples as
a. characteristics That their forms of politencss
10 are graceful aud picturesque is not to be denied
III There is more OF the show of courtesy among
re the common people, and more Of what may be
ne called gallantry in the treatment Of women,
"a than among the SaxOns and the Celts; but q
~ form of courtesy which is a form Of tawnlng
on for purpose aud gallantry which originates
ne in sensuality. are neither fine manners nor good
70 manners. The French have been for many
Il u years regarded as the politest nation OF the
all earth. The French capital is looked upon az
cS; the very home and high court of fine manners
I'LL yet there is probably not city in the wOrlC
ay that entertains 50 little respect for woman a
5V- Paris, or that is SO thoroughly pGrmeated b,
lou distrust. The Frenchman does not trust tn
vas Erenchwoman, nor docs she trust him. Iii
III treatment of her, though fine enough in 1t
aSt manner is dictated by that which is base /
'cE him. 1t has the look Of gold, but both he an
Oeu she know that it is only lacquer France
10 iull of fine manners, but We should never thin
u Of looking in France for good manners An
ohs man who has travelled there knows that the
who bow lowest to him will cheat him wOrS
!eu and that underneath fine exterior and a shO
Jug of self depreciation and outgoing Difference an
IeI respect, there lives and dominates a Selhshne
sou sou that is hideOus and hateful.
tne th AS we are in the habit of praising Il
tne Frenchmans politeness, so are we in the hab
, 'oll of speaking very contemptuOusly OF the ma
anu ners of the characteristic American. That
et'y the lower forms of American social life the
Aeu is much that is rude and uncouth is admitted
the but it is also claimed that in some respect
: vi the American is the best tmannered man Twin
I'VE, He is never quarrelSome, his whole educate
las1 a has made him careful to respect the rights
lor those around him, and he entertains rega
hree for woman which the characteristic represent
are tive of no other nation shares with him. L
year theory on which the institutions of his count
mas are founded, and the influence OF those instit
hoSe tiOnS upon him since the day OF his BIRTH a
y OF favorable to the development in him of 4!
the respect for the rights of all men which is
ol tial as the basis of good manners. In
70 country but America cat woman, unattend(
laOe travel whereSoever she will without insult,
EN- a the danger of insult There are no countr
sus- in the world in which woman travelling ale
King would travel i'll so much danger as in tn
alue' most noted for fine manners.
haEe American society Is comparatively new
Iile have very little among us that is tradition
play The national style of manners is in a formal
save state; but we certainly possess the basis
!, till 90 . ,raoJ 1atrrod fac;lo noorIo not mnaro
nes ful, and cert ,inly notlacking in self pOssessi
'ne We have need only to respect ourselves II
too' more, cease looking across the water for III
'auen els, and give as graceful an expression as
oanN' n can to our sentiments toward universal Il
us and woman, to become the acknowledged /
y soii SCISSORS of good manners.
lSarge Fine manners will not become universal
Ohsh characteristic of American life for many ye
j. the The absorption of the American mind in
N; development of the material resources of
8o1ld country, in the prosecution, of its indust
aphaI interests, and in the pursuit of wealth, forl
opas that aesthetic culture whose natural outgrO
rench is fine manners Good manners which
lg the already possess, and for which we hold
ana only legitimate and reliable basis, need sim
men to be refined The refinement of good n
} loSe' nCrs will not come to US through the pur
's lot of Zine manners as fine art, but they
eRltl, come as anatural outgrowth Of general esth
laweu culture. As the nation becomes more refI
manners will be only one of the forms
eu modes through which the growing idea Of [
nlleu which is graceful and beautiful will exp
Sieell @ itself The man who feels finely will act fin
M nave provided he mingle sufficiently in society to
INT to f,aol, There ia M vo!ua in anv form Of
from art S,;,ban, 6no fooI;nS and ;bsre must
young somatbina better tban Tho character ne
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