Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-05-30
NO. 1913.
Miseellaneous.
MANNERS IN NEW ENGLAND.

Seventy-fve years ago, the New Eng
land people were more thoroughly and
purely religious than were an equal
number ot people in any other quarter OF
the world. Their manners were not what
may be called refined they were not so
cOurtly as those OF Virginia, for the New
Enganders had learned TO distrust courts
aud all that pertained to them; but their
manners were exceedingly kind, gentle
and deferential, and carefully toned with
delicate consideration for the rights and
feelings OF others. Such was the security
for personal rights in those days, that
houses or store-rooms were seldom locked;
people on Sundays often left their win
dows open in summer, while absent at
church a young lady might 90 anywhere
by herself alone and the traveller was
frequently, if not generally, saluted by q
bow or courtesy from children.
These manners and customs were due
to the religious training of the people.
Almost everybody went to church, and
the Bible was Il reading book in the schools
and not there alone; the youth was taught
TO read it every day, and IL was hardly re-
spectacle not TO have read it through by
the age of manhood. The effect of such
training upon manners could not have
failed 10 be OF the most benignant kind.
Nowhere in all the teachings of mtn
from the days OF Lord Chesterfield, when
even the English had no formed manners.
down to the present day, has there ever
| been any treatise on good manners equal
| to that which may be found in the letters
| of St. Paul to that of his friend Timothy.
In these letters all the experience of the
then past, OF Greek, Hebrew and Roman.
were combined with the elevating and
soItening influences of Christian faith.
But things have greatly changed in New
England from what they were seventy
five years ago. Probably not over one in
five OF the people there habitually attend
church; and il the Bible is still read in
the schools there, it is rather from the
lingering traces of an early habit than
from any decided attachment to the books
as a school reader. In some schools per-
haps the tustian, spread-eagle speeches of
politicians, or the lucubrations OF low hu-
morsts, would be considered preferable to
1t, especially for acquiring elocution, TO
which great Importance is attached.
Yet regard the district school. as the
only true source OF good manners In
America. Without the school house, even
religion would become corrupt among us.
1t is only in the early school days of life
that good manners can be taught as an
abiding influence. AS the youth grows
up to manhood, religion mast step in to
improve and preserve these manners; but
ii manners are neglected until they are
fashioned by the preacher alone. they can
never be as good as if taught early. in the
| first days OF school-going.
| The church and the school house must
go together; and the chool house must be
put first III this matter. The work to be
done to teach children practical religion,
practical love Tor each other, is by their
learning, as the first OF lessons, especially
in Il Republic, to respect the rights OF 9TH
ers before insisting ON their OWN. Y.
O6strUer.