The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-06-19


ne aol iIt TIE American peo
is haze ever been remarkable fol iae nlsn-
ner. Prom Whist ne have ress and beard
81 Gle es1lies Zines, before end after tie
revolution. which separated she COLONIES
from tie mother country there was more
attention paid, both b. gentlemen and q
dies. to the point 81 manners shan . noN
done by TIE PIE ent generation. Tie Amer
lean gentleman Of the old school was st''di-
0uziy poliie - ever 5ody, A.sl 'sf
freeman 81 slave. so, too. II was with the
lady u that time she prided herself on i'ey
polished manners end she exhibited tile-a
alike to rich and i,oor-her own self respect
would not permit her to be otherwise
Washington. Hancock, Burr, Hamilton, the
Randoiphs and Lees, and many stheFs Of
thsIf day,were famous ios their department
ss wen s. their tslsrts. And 50 dcsH %
a later period, the public men Of tbs coun-
IN were noted FOR their pleasing aad win
ming ways.
Who that ever saw and talked with Jack
son and Clay.and Calhoun and Tyler and
Polk and Rives can forget the indescribable
charm OF their nanuers and conversational
But how4s it now with our public men
and our so-called gentlemen and ladies with
regard to manners and general politenessi
Have they made any improvement on their
predecessorsi This is the boosted age of
progress. Wehave progressed in steamers,
railroads and teIcgraphs, in the arts and sci
cnces, in literature and the many wonderful
mechanical inventions, rcapers, mowers,
rakers. washers, churns and sewing ma
chimes etc, etc. But what advance have
we made on the manners Of our ancestors?
Anys Not one inch. We have retrograded.
We are becoming more coarse, rude and
boorish every year. No attention is paid
to department. It may possibly be
Taught in ladies' boarding schools,
but, if 50, It is seldom or never prac-
ticed in ordinary life. Our public men
may have talents and requirements Of
various kinds: but the most Of them have
I little or no manners-certainly nothing &c
brag Of. And how many Mrs. Washing
tons. BIrs. Madisons and Mrs. Folks are t.
be found among our ovcF-dresscd ladies
who rule society without adjoining Il
They have any amount Of silks, and lace'
and jeweiFy, any amount Of what are consi
dcred the fashionable accomplishments O.
the day, but how much have they Of genH
inc. thorough, unmiEtakeable good breed
ingl Politcness is said to cost nothing
and surely it requires only little care anC
little effort, but it is now thrown aside a
Of small worth and Of no consequence
Yet it is of unmeasured and unspeakabl
consequence. It promotes good feeling
and makes people happy--it prevents nucl
ilI-feeling and arrangements and open quar-
rels in society and at home, in public an,
IN private life. When acquaintance pass b.
each other without any kindly recognition
when they pay not the slightest attentiont
each others wants or wishes, not caring Z
please or be pleased, what is the conse
+ lauenceg Gradual but certain arrangement
bad and wrongful feelings, derogstory re
! marks, and finally open hostility. hait IN
quaFrals, which disturb society, we may say
! half the homicides, which disgrace it, Nigh
4 be avoided by the practice OF 3 little pnlit'
ness. It is the great paciicator, and tn
best evidence Of high civilization. Will
e out it we are little better than barbarian
with all our boosted knowledge, wealth an
r power.
e Why have we degcnerated in this respec
L Why are not our children taught manners
n well as other thingsa Why are they above
4 to grow up without any respect for age
station or woFthl Why are they not urge'
. and even compelled to be polite to one a
# other, and especially to the older and wis
g around them, and to walk in the ways th
G lead to peace, and good win and joy an
contentment2 The poet hss told rs tn
a s.the child is father to the man, and
i the children of country are, sowiil be t
men and something worse. Let our phi
, lanthropists ponder on this.