The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1875-01-21
RANDOM THOUGHTS.
BY TIRE EDITOR.


spelling. I believe that there are neg
lected studies which should receive the
earnest attention OF teachers. But teach
ers can do little without the cooperation
of families, and l propose to devote some
attention to this subject for few weeks.
Little things make up the sum total of
our lives. Our happiness or misery de-
pends, not upon great matters of Church,
or. State.
Many years ago 1 read several works
upon the subject of etiquette One of the
best l ever read was the book written by
Count D'Orsay, who, in his day, was con-
sidered not only the handsomest man in
England, but one of the most polite and
refined.
Rules of etiquette, like rules in read
ing, grammar, dc, are founded upon
common sense, and the reason of things
believe that all true manners, polite
ness, etiquette, or whatever name you
may give it, is founded upon the Scrip
tuIe principle, Thou shalt love thy
neighbor as thyself," or, in other words,
Whatsoever ye would that men should
do unto you, do ye even so unto them"
Or, Put yourself in his place"
Basing my opinion upon this ground,
l will endeavor to illustrate in a way
that will attract attention, instruct,
and perhaps have some influence upon
the young.
| l have no doubt of the transmission of
the good or bad propensities of parents,
yet education can work wonders, even
with the worst children.
do not propose to go into the subject
at great length this week, but viii give
two or three instances where parties
have neglected to observe the great prin-
| ciple above mentioned.
Last Saturday l went to the Postoffice
in this place. By the way the Postoffice
is as good place to study etiquette as
any other. There every body in the en-
tire community has business, and has a
right to go, and each one has the same
right as any other one When | went
into the room, the mail was being opened
and the people kept coming in until the
room was crowded. When the Postmas-
ter had finished opening the mail there
was rush to the boxes. Many were in
a hurry Some men had left their teams
standing in the street, and were ner-
vously watching them until they could
get their mail. A man aged nearly sixty
years. stepped to his box, unlocked it
and took out an envelope and opened it,
and commenced looking at and reading
| the paper he found it. | think, from its
appearance, that it was a printed circu-
lar Such things are not generally OF
much Importance; yet he stood there and
read it for several minutes He stood
in an angle of the Postoffice boxes, and
! there were boxes on the right and left
of him, and he kept back at least half a
dozen persons who could not get to their
boxes while he stood there Younger
persons did not like to crowd him back,
and he was permitted to stand in the
way for some time, like an old fool, gawk-
ing and gaping at his circular. Now
have known this man for more than
thirty years, and he is by no means a
fool, or Door, but man with much above
the average of common sense But his
education had been sadly neglected His
mother no doubt had permitted his sell
fish propensities to have complete devek
opment He had no thought that he
should give others an equal opportuni-
ty to get their mail matter that he de-
sired for himself.
This selfish and unmannerly disposi-
tion can be seen at the Postoffice every
day. Parties-even women, who gener-
ally are so polite, will stand in the door,
or at the letter box, when they have no
manner of business there, and give 9th
ers much annoyance, and put them to
great inconvenience.
hotel is another excellent place to
study manners, or rather the want of
manners The education of children is
more neglected in reference to taking
their meals, than in any other particu-
lar Permit child to demand and re-
-ceive, or to seize, anything it may desire
at the table, and it will grow up selfish,
uncouth and positively vulgar when at
the table. have been boarding at ho-
tolls all the the time during the past year
and half and l have been a close OBJ
server. A few weeks ago fellow who
was perhaps a drummer for some dry
goods house, took seat at the table on
my right. He had his hair parted in the
middle, and wore big watch chain, and
had heavy ring on one of his fingers
II e had the servant to devote all her at
tentIon to him. so that the others of us
had rather poor dinner of it. He de-
manded every plate of chicken that was
put upon the table, and appropriated
every nice piece He had his plate piled
up with good things, and I think count
ed five chicken legs upon his plate sew
eral of which he never touched l hope
the young mans mother is yet living,
and that she may get forgiveness for
sending such a man out into the world.
A very wise man once said that foolish
son is the heaviness of his mother l
may be mistaken, but my opinion is that
that young man, when he was a boy, tyr
annized over his brothers and sisters,
and even over his mother, and that she
was weak woman, and thus made a
fool of her boy.
came on the cars from Portsmouth
once, when the seats were crowded In
one seat was a well dressed, but impu.
dent looking young man. On the seat