Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-04-24
aIexa. Gazette IL Virginia ADVERTISE
HOW TO TEACH FOLITENESS.

Those peopie who are continually auiing
the good old timc,' seldom fail to contrast
the mauuers OF Young Americans of today
with those OF the children when they We're
Young. And in truth, it cauuot be denied that
the children fifty or a hundred years ago spoke
more respectfully to and of their parents aud
teachers than they 10 iowa days; but, on the
other hand, the loving couhdence that exists
between most children and parents OF the pre-
sent time was very rare then, and the respect
with which the young treated their elders Was
inspired by fear rather than love. 50 we are
left to solve the problem of retaining the con-
fdeuce aud friendship of our children, and, at
the same lime teaching them good manners.
Prof Allen, in one Of his addresses at the
Newtowu institute, said that he had nowhere
found better manners amutg the children than
10 Friends households, and he thought that
the reason for This was that there, more than
elsewhere, they were treated as part OF the
family, and uucousciously learned to extend the
SAME consideration TO OF hers which they received
themselves.
He told an amusing story of boy who Was
never allowed to present himself before COM
paDy, because he was somewhat backward
aud presented an awkward appearance; but
on one occasion he plead so hard that his
mother gave hin permission to go 10 the
paTIOE II uG WOulu Spedh eiuSlC "Oiu.
When the guests arrived, one after another
addressed questions to him, to none of which
he ventured reply, whereupon one OF the
visitors exclaimed, why the boy is a Ounce. !"
At this the unfortunate youth rushed out to
the kitchen, exclaimiug Mother, mother,
they've found out I'm Ounce and | did't
open my mouth !!
People generally act as though they think
children have 40 feelings, aud have not sense
enough to know When they are sighted or
snubbed. Flow often do We see people enter
family in which they are acquainted, speak
pleasantly to all the grown folks, but vouch-
safe not ever nod OF recognition to the chill
dren. Is it any wonder that boys become rude
and boorish, caring for nobody, because they
are perpetually made to feel that they are IN
the way, aud that nobody cares for them Is
it any wonder that girls 10 their teens are so
awkward and ill at ease when they first bgin to
BE- treated with some consideration Ii chill
dren were treated with the same pollteness
which we extend to young ladies ad gentlemen
"tEe awkward age" when hauds and feet are
such inconveniences, would not make its ap-
pearance.
once had in my school family of children
who invariably attracted the attention of ylsl-
tors they were not especially pretty, nor
smart, nor we'll dressed, but people who saw
them neve failed TO remark. What pleas
ant manners those children have" The first
time | visited their home discovered the Sc
ereL The mother, having occasion to pass be
fore Que of the girls, said to her as she would
have said to me, Excuse me for passing be-
fore you. The mystery was solved at ouce
she treated her children as she would have
them treat her, aud the consequence was that
they were the best bred children In the neigh
borhood.
Parents and teachers who forget to say
please and "Thank you to their children,
have 20 right to require the children to say
please" and "Thauk you" to them.
practice what you preach is an old maxim,
but as good as it is old; and therefore the best
way for parents and teachers to iuculcate polite
ness is Ito be polie themselves"