Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-06-03


We hear often enough In the
present day OF degeneracy of mod
ern manners, and instances are
constantly being given OF things
which young men and maidens
do nowadays that in the last gen.
Grafton would have been deemed
Dpardonable. The customs of
the present day, which admit of
the eccentricities of masculine
costume, which allow smoking
on all occasions and almost all pla-
ces. and which permit abrupt
ness of manner and mode of adj
dress that would have been shock
ing no very great number of years
ago, may probably be the result
of that general onward movement
and fastness Of age, which recon-
mends special version of one Of
Shakespeare's plays because it
takes 80 shortssa time in the acting
We rush onward and imagine
that we have 10 time for repose;
we luse the dignities of life in
striving after its rapidities.
ftot, SiCiC bCiO
and there recollection of what
used to be; aud now and then
the elders of the community and
found to wish that something Of
old fashioned politeness might be-
come prevalent. AS far as regards
woman, this change may be he
the esult of the claims which
women re making to hold places
In the world which hitherto have
only been filled by men But
we can hardly think that this is
the case, for, if it were SO, itwould
be only the woman making spe-
cial claims who would be treated
with any degree of abruptness
and, SD far as our observations ex-
tends, this is by no meano the
case. Young ladies, who would
&c tut the idea Of being "strong
minded, are quite as much SUBJ
ject to this new kind of treat
ment as are the most advanced of
sex. 1t may be, as contempo-
rary has recently said, that men
II tire Of the companionship of wo-
man in all places--in the hunting
4 field, the billiard room, the smO
King room that tneif one de-irr
il tie be let alone, and t.lat their
lreatnlent of women is the reaul
Of aa uneXprt-, though str3ng-
~ Il, desire 20 gel r.d OF them.
Ii seem, to IA 10 he in the hands
Of women themselves to exact
from uIen behavior such as will
lie indicative of proper respect.
But We have also noticed. and
have been grieved to notice, that
among young women themselves
there is being developed an alb
ruptness of manner, disregard of
the small poiteness and convin-
tionalities Of life, distressing 10
| those who know how this will
be reflected by the conduct
of others. 1t would be, indeed,
sad thing if the advancement of
woman intellectually and socially
the putting forward of claims to
higher education and to distinct
acknowledgment of political posi-
ton, should be accompanied by
a deterioration in the practice of
amenities of life which are espe-
cially in the charge of women.
We would appeal to the sense and
good taste of those who are taking
any part in the movement for the
n advancement of women to avoid
with the utmost care all practices
which give the idea that with the
good things must be taken all the
carelessness OF the ways of young
men, A young girl is not the less
ayoung girl, and bound to be
maidenly, because she Is studying
Greek and Latin. She is not JUS
tilted in ''fiying in the face Of all
Customary usages, because she
has become acquainted with the
higher mathematics; nor is she
excused from the minor polite
ness because she happens to be
able to spend busy day at work
and is not compelled to abide in
the misery of idleness. We would
ask some OF the rising generation
TO ponder these matters, and to
strive after being "perfect women
nobly planned" not only in the
cultivation OF intellect and indie
pendence, but in the exercise of
all womanly graces and sweet