Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-30
~NICE YOUNG MEN,
How they Appear TO q Sensible WO.
man, and what She Thinks
Of Them!
Olive LOgan's Lecture at Masonic
Hall Last Night.

Olive LOgan's Lecture at Masonic
Hall Last Night.
Olive Logan lectured in Masonic Hall
last night to very large audience, on the
subject of "Nice Young Men," NJ. B.
Howell, Esq, President of the Nashville
Literary Association, for the benefit of
which the lecture was delivered, presented
the fair lecturer to the audience.
She referred to the fact so often set
forth in the all-sorts columns of newspa-
pers to the effect that a woman's
highest word Of commentator was
nice" The proverb, she said, does
not apply to all women under al conceiva-
BILE circumstances, but it does apply to so
many women, under such variety. of cir
cumstances, that accept il for the present
purpose. 1t is nice word. l should not
apply it to Niagara Falls, think, though
we have all heard of the young woman
who thought Niagara Falls $50 cunning'
TLaughter.] You have also heard
of the Boston man who thought
it "right smart chance
for water power. Everything in its
place. propose to illustrate certain phases
of the masculine existence by presenting
certain typical young men, for be it known
there are many kinds of nice young men,
and the first l shall mention may be char
acterized as
THE WELL HAMMERED YOUNG MAN.
It is to this young man my friend Mrs. Smir-
ker refers, when she says "He seems to be a
very nice young man." l am to
he is not very enthusiastic and he does not
say great deal, but it covers exactly the
man she intends it to cover. Mrs. Smirker
is lady Of good position in society, who
gives dinners and parties in Ssason, and is
obliged to have young men in her parlors
who will not do her discredit. Hence her
elaborate, if rather Indifferent commenda-
ton of the well-meaning young man. 1t
means simply this: l know nothing about
his morals or his intellectual facul-
ties, but he has good manners,
and that is the main thing
so far as can see. This young man pre-
sents himself in the light of person whose
dress is irraproachable and whose manners
are polished. These recommend him in
social sense more strongly than either learn
ing or virtue. The fact is worthy of being
considered. If a young man is bOOrish in
his intercourse with his fellow men, So
ciety will not bestow its approval upon him
though his moral character be iIreproachA-
BILE and his education of the best. If
on the other hand he is gentlemanly in his
intercourse with society, it will recognize
that superficial excellence in him and not
inquire too closely into graver matters
which ought to concern it. The we'll
hammered young man recognizes this truth
and profits by it. His good manners must
be looked upon in the light of a positive
virtue, one of the miHor virtues if you will,
but still virtue. Personal cleanliness is
no less a virtue in itself though it be the
only excellence Of a gambler or rogue.
The lecturer continued to speak at soma
length on the subject of good manners and
said if young man feels that it is in his
nature to be rude ard speak, as he terms it,
plainly, let him ask himself this question:
Do improve the people to whom l say
these things? A favorite argument Of this
young man is that he does not put on airs,
and he has no time to bother with nice
clothes. But is it not Just as easy to dress nice
ly and neatly. One young man says that his
father eats his food with the sharp edge Of
his knife outward, therefore he intends to
do the same, but if you should ask him TO
wear a similar style of coat, hat, and collar
as his father, for the same reason, he would
naturally rebel. The truth is fashions
change, and it would be ridiculous for
person to dress in the fashion
of the early days of his father.
THE ILL-MANNERED YOUNG MAN
may be one of the best-hearted and best
educated young men in the world. He
may be able to construe Sanscrit and repeat
the Had of Homer in the original Greek;
he may be virtuous as Cesar's wife, and
his moral principles may be as sound as
those of the Young Mems Christian As
sociation; Qaughter) he may be a member
of that excellent organization and to that
extent a very nice young man indeed, but
if he has bad manners he will offend we'll
bred people as grossly as if he were to go
to tea party in a state of beer. 1t is not
agreeable to sit at the table with
a Young man who eats as if
he had only twenty minutes for
dinner and as if a perpetual train was
awaiting him; who stretches across the
table to harpOon potato with his fork and
chews his food with a noise like four
footed animal, and finally tips his chair back
on its hind legs and picks his teeth with his
He is always making noises,
this young man; always restless, fidge'ty,
slOuchy, uneasy, undignified. He chews
tobaccoland chewing tobacco is dirty habit.
In certain town there is a society composed
of girls, whose constitution aud bylaws are
as follows: ave will never kiss any young
man who chews tobacco" The tobacco
trade Of that town was ruined.
DRESSY YOUNG MAN.
There is another young man who may be
seen at Saratoga, Niagara Falls, or at any of
the numerous watering places. " hat dis
tinguishes him from other young men is
that he wears clothes, or rather might say,
The clothes wear him. He does not wear
clothes in the passive but in the active
mood. He is the young man who waltzes,
and one of them who told that the ladies all
thought he waltzed delightfully."-, said he
couldn't see how it was, for all he did was
10 hold his partner and let her kick. 1 saw
q young man on board of an Atlantic steam
er last summer who was one of these nice
young men. He wore the most beautiful
spring bottomed pantaloons, dainty cut
away velvet coat, immense sleeve-button,
and watch-chain, and when l was tired of |
reading or talking, / used to sit and amuse
myself watching him, for he was really a
SlRuG WUlIu S6Sl1S anu WdS always Ou CA-
libition. There was another gentleman on !
board whose autograph was sought after by
everyone, and that was honest old Gen.
Spinner. A certain young lady on board |
accepted the former as her gallant, because
he latter was old-fashioned, and his dress |
was inferior. Where are these |
ne wspaper men who wriCe such |
sarcastic and funny articles about
,ur chignons, high-heeled boots, etc.
will turn the table and write about the cut |
If their troWsers and coats. Such exag-
,erated dress is never characteristic Of
gentleman. There is only one rule
or young man on this matter of dress,
md that is perfect simplicity and cleanli-
less.
THE FUNNY YOUNG MAN.
Did you ever meet the funny young
nan? His one object in life
Gems to be to do something fun
" to make people laugh. 1t is not
Wit such as Sydney Smiths, nor humor like
Sam Sticks, but he depends for his laughtE
provoking powers on tricks. When they
all, he falls back on conundrUms. The
unny young man is actively a nuisance.
You cannot respect him, and person who
aughs ut his jokes issilly.
THE REALLY NICE YOUNG NAM.