Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1874-09-03
AMERIoAN INcIVM.ITY.
svhnt Or; ~. G. EEoiianlsIIas TO Say OF,
tho Subject,

- :.
yvhnt Dr3 ~. G. Roliana'xIas 60 Say on
tao Subject.
There is, most undoubtedly, some
thing in the political equality estab-
lished by American institutions which
interferes with the development of o;y-
ility among those who occupy what are
| denominated the lower Lwnlks OF Iife.I
It is hard to see why, this should be So.
One would naturally suppose that po1iS-
ical equality would breed reciprocal re-
speot among all classes and individuals,
no less than self-respect. Certainly
there could hardly be better basis Of
good maHners than self-respect and re-
spect for others; yet, with everything
IN! our lnstltntionsi 70 develop these, to-
| gether with o respect for women which
is entertained in no other country. with
which Ye are acquainted, 1t is not to
be denied that among the workers of
| the nation politeness Is little known and
less praotieed. "a man Who steps into
Washington market, with good coat
on, looking for his dinner, will receive
the utmost politeness of which the STALL
keeper is capable, and this will consist
in calling him boss ca boorish con-
cession to civility for the sake of trade.
The courteous greeting, the Sir,n and
the Madam" the civil answer, the
thousand indescribable Differences and
attentions, equally without servility or
arrogance. which reveal good manners,
are wanting. ss3 is'
1t all comes wo suppose, Of the fear
of those who find themselves engaged
III humbls empl loyments, that they shall
virtually Goncede that somebody some
where is better than themselves. It is
singular That they should voluntarily
take course that, proves the fact that
they are 50 unwilling to admit to them
selves and others. The man who un.
dertakes 70 prove that he is as good Us
gentleman, by behaving like boor,
volunteere q decision against himself !;
while heawho treats oil men politely
builds for himself position which Sc
cures the Respect of all whose conduct
is not condemned by his own. The
American is kinder man than the
Frenchman, and better natured than the
Englishrahn, but the humble American
is less polite than either. One Of the
charms OF Paris to the travelling Ameri-
can grows pIb of the fact that It is one
of the fifAil places he visits, and that
then, for lie first TIME ia his life, he
comes into contact with class Of hufi,,.
BILE peopls who have thoroughly GOOD
manners. fe is not called |" boss.h or
g hoss. is himself put upon his,
.ffsooas hssl ase by the thorouzhiy cour-
teous rreatNhen6 ne rBceiveB among fisif-i
way officials, shop-keepers, walters at
cafe and hotel, cab-drivers, etc. The
bien Monsieur" and "bien! Mad.
anne, which responds to ones requests
in Paris, is certainly very sweet and sat.
isfactory after Gall right, boss you
can bet ont"
Where the cure for our national trou-
BILE is coming from, it is hard to tell.
There was time, fifty years ago, when
there was degree of reverence in Amer
ican children, and at least a show of
good manners. Great respect to those
OF superior age and culture was then
inculcated, and Mt least formal courtesy
exacted, Those of country breeding
who are old enough remember the
strings Of school children at the road
side, who arrayed themselves for the
formal exhibitions Of courtesy to the
passenger. Certainly all this training
is done with, and such sight as this
we presume has not been witnessed in
America within twenty-five years.
Even the men and fathers,
mothers, and teachers of fifty years ago,
had receded from the courteous habits
of previous generations. In the old,
colonial and even later days, great re-
spect was paid to dignities. The
clergyman was reverenced bcause he
was clergyman, and occupied the su-
preme position of teacher of the people.
He was reverenoed not only because of
his holy calling, but because he was q
s,So H., n.
clergyman, if he is q good fellow. is
very much liked and petted, but the
old reverence for him, and universal
courtesy toward him, are unknown.
Are the people any better for all this
change? We think not, and we DO not
doubt that the change itself has much
to do with the habits Of inciyiIity of
which we complain. Men must have
some principle of reverence in them, as
basis of good manners, ana this princi.
pie of reverence in the modern Ameri-
can child has very little DEVELOPMENT.
He comes forward early, and the first
thing he does in multitndes of instances
is to lose his respect for his parents,
Indeed, courtesy toward parents is in
no way exacted. Poor men and woman
try to give their children better chances
than they had themselves, and the
children grow up with contempt for
those whose sacrifices have raised them
to higher plane of culture. They call
the teacher cold Snooks," or cold
Bundle" or whatever his name may
happen to be. It is not unjust to de-
clare that there is in America to-day no
attempt distinctly and definitely made.
to cultivate spirit of reverence in
children.
We acknowledge tini we have M faith