Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-02-06
Married POliteness.

"Will you?n asked pleasant voice.
And the husband answered
"Yes, my DEAR with pleasure
1t was quietly, but heartily said; the
tone, the manner, the look, were per-
fectly natural and very afectionate.-
We thought: How pleasant the courte-
GUS reply! How gratifying il must be
to the wife! Many husbands of ten
years experience are ready enough with
the courtesies of politeness to the young
ladies of their acquaintance, while they
speak with abruptness to the wife, and
do many rude little things without con-
sidering them worth an apology. The
stranger whom they have seen but yes
| terday, is listened to with Difference, and
although the subject may not be one of
| the pleasantest nature, with a ready
smile; while the poor wife, if she re-
lates domestic grievance, is snubbed
or listened to with ill concealed impa-
tience. oh! how wrong this is-all
wrong.
| Does she urge some request
"Oh! don't bother me-" cries her gra-
cious lord and master.
Does she ask for necessary funds for
Susy's shoes or Tommy's hat
''Seems to me you're always wanting
money!" is the handsome retort.
Is any little extra demanded by his
masculine appetite, it is ordered, not
requested:
"Look here, I want you to do SO and
so-just see that it's done; and off
marches hIr. Boor, with bow and
smile of gentlemanly polish for every
casual acquaintance he may chance to
| recognize.
| When we meet with such thoughtless-
ness and cOarseness, our thoughts revert
to the kind voice and gentle manner
of the friend who said: "Yes, my dear,
with pleasure" "I beg your pardon''
comes as readily to his lips, when by
any little accident he has disconnected
her as it would in the presence of the
most fashionable sticklers for etiquette.
| This is because he is thorough gentle
| tleman, who thinks his wife in all
| things entitled to precedence. He loves
her best. Why should he hesitate to
show it. not in sicklY maudiin atten-
tions, but in preferrfng her pleasure,
honoring her in public as well as in pri-
vate. He knows her worth. Why
should he hesitate to attest it? "And
her husband he praised her," saith holy
writ, not by fulsOme adulation, not by
pushing her charms into notice. but by
speaking as opportunity occurs, in many
ways of her virtues.
Though words seem little things, and
slight attention almost valueless, yet
depend upon it they keep the flame
bright, especially If they are natural
The children grow up in a better moral
atmosphere and learn to respect their
parents as they see them respecting each
other. Many boy takes advantage of
the mother he loves, because he sees often
the rudeness of his father. Insensibly
he gathers to his bosom the same habits
and the thoughts and feelings they en-
gender and in his turn becomes the petty
tyrant. Only his mother! Why should
he thank her? Father never does.-
Thus the home becomes the seat of dis
order and unhappiness. Only for stran-
gers are kind words expressed, and hyp-
ocrites go cut from the hearthstones full
ly prepared to render justice, benevo-
lcnce and politeness to every one and
any one but those who have the justest
claims. All! give us the kind glance,
the happy homestead, the smiling wife
and courteous children of the friend
who said so pleasantly: "Yes, my dear,
with pleasure"