Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-09-11

class job out of anything from swallow
tailed coat up to man unless you put it
together right the first time.
American IEciyilIty
FIR IN Scribners' Magazine.
! There is, most undoubtedly, something in
| the political equality established by Ameri-
| can institutions which interferes with the de-
velopment of ciyility among those who occu-
/ DIV what arc denominated the lOwe- walks Of
! life. Ii Is hard to see why this should be
50. One would naturally suppose that po-
litical equality would breed reciprocal re-
srect among all classes and individuals, no
less than selt-respect. Certainly there would
hardly te better basis of good manners
than self-respeet and respect for others yet,
with everything in our institutions to de-
velop these, together with respect for wo-
man which is entertained in no other coun-
try with which we are acquainted, it is not
to be denied that among the workers Of the
nation politeness is little known and less
practi>ed. \ man who steps into Washing
ton market, with good coat on, looking for
his dinner, will receive the utmost polite
ness of which the stall-keeper is capable,
and this will consist in calling him ''boss'
"a boorish concession to ciyility for the
sake of trade. The courteous greeting, the
Sir and the MADAM, the civil answer,
the thousand indeseribable Differences and
attentions, equally without servility or ar
rogance, which reveal good manners. are
wanting.
1t all comes. we suppose, OF the fear of
those who find themselves engaged in hum
bic employments, that they shall virtually
concede that somebody somewhere is better
than themselves. 1t Is singular that they
should Voluntarily take course that prove,
the fact that they are 50 unwilling to admit
10 themselves and others. The man who
undertakes TO prove that he is as good as a
gentleman, by behaving like a boor, volun-
teers decision against himself while he
who treats all men politely, builds for him
self position which secures the respect Of
all whose conduct is not condemned by his
own. The American Is a kinder man than
the Frenchman, and better-natured than
the Enslshman, but the humple American
is less ptlite than either One OF the charms
Of Paris to the travelling American grows
out of the fact that it Is one Of the first
places lie visits, and that then, for the first
time in his life, he comes into contact with
a class Of humble people who have thorough
" good manners. He j. not called boss,
or hos lie is himself put upon his
good behavior, by the thoroughly courteous
treatment he receives among railway officials.
shop-keepers, walters at cafe and hotel. cab
drivers, ete The "bien Monsieur and
"bien Madame. which responds to one :
requests in Paris, Is certainly very sweet
and satisfactory after ''all right, boss;
you can bet ont
Where the cure for our national trouble
coming from it i, hard to tell. There was a
time, fifty years ago, when thete was a de-
gree of reverence in American children, and
at least a show Of good manners. Great re
spect to those of sluerior age aid culture
was then inculcated and at least formal
courtesy exacted. Those cf country breed
ing 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 away with, and such
sight this we presume has not been wit
messed in America within twenty five years.
Even the men and women-tathcrs, mothers
and teachers Of fifty years ago, had receded
from the courteous habits OF previous gen
erations Ia the Old colonial. and even
later days, great respect was paid to digni-
ties. The clergyman was reyerenced because
he was a clergyman, and occupied the su-
preme position of teacher of the people.
lie was revereuccd not only because Of his
holy calling, but because helwas a scholar.
Al this has gone by. The clergyman, if he
Is a good fellow, Is very much liked and
petted, bat the old reverence for him. and
universal courtesy toward him, are un-
known.
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 incivility Of which we
complain. Men must have some principle
of reverence in them, as a basis Of good
manners, and this principle Of reverence in
the modern American child has very little
Development. lie comes forward early. and
the first thing he does in multitudes Of in-
stances is to lose his respect for his parents.
Indeed, courtesy toward parents is in no
way exacted. Poor men and women 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 place Of cul
ture They call the teacher 'Old Snooks."
u Ii4 l'i.i'' =. u. "na.e'el "N nam Ip
ma! nIPP 70 w. : no' "nJaS' 70 u.
eIaIo 'idt 'ne'e i III An,ecicl to-d'y no ~
.eHp'' uisliiigI!! anu uennl'ety niaue' u
We acknowledge that we have no faith in
any at'eunPs 70 rei1rin 'he manners ol 'ne
forts to make sober men out of drunkards,
and the total abstinence men out Of moder-
L., =. a