Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-05-31
Ghildreu's department.
A TALK TO THE BOYS.

to-day, guess I'll write sisterly little talk
to the boys You know hardly ever write
anything for them, and of all classes in the
world, boys are my favorites. Give me the
boys, the dear, growing young boys, the hope
and promise of the nation" Just as soon as
1 said that the girls began to tell me what to
say. They said: Don't forget to tell the
boys that if they want their sisters to love
them, they must be good to them, and tell
them their secrets, and not let them take long
walks when they could ride as we'll as not !;
and they mustn't growl over their fine shirts
and complain over every imaginable annoy
anoe, and find fault about their food. That
it is these hahitual fault-6nders who grow to
be unsocial and unovable, and finally, detest-
able bores."
Summed up, this is what the girls told me
to tell you, boys: "Don't wear your hats in
the house; be careful to keep clean; wash
often see that your hands are not grimy and
your finger nails untidy. If you are going
to clean stable, put on old shabby boots
kept for that purpose under the manger.
Take notice how a wel.bred gentleman sits
how he manages his two hands, his two legs,
and let him be your example.
Don't ever, ever, when you sit down, cross
your legs, sprawl, turn the soles of your boots
up for inspection, or scoot down in your chair
until you sit on the small of your back you
are clownish boor if you do that. Some
men will sit gee.hawed all over chair, with
an arm upon the back of it. and their legs
crossed, until they look no more like a man
than a fgure.4 trap, such as we often see
along the creek bank. Nothing stamps a
man lout sooner than this.
No wel-bred young lady will tolerate the
company of a young man who smokes in her
presence. 1t is an insult. Yawning and
trotting your heels, and putting on Indifferent
airs, are likewise insulting; so is eating nois-
lily, or smacking your lips, or using hair oil
or strong perfumery. Many good fellow
has got the mitten just because he used po-
mades aud hair dressing, and lolled his grea.
sy head against the wall. I've seen more
than one pair of blue eyes snap like black
ones over the pittiess and immovable spot on
the wall just back of the sofa. They called
it desecration, or some such word. Don't use
slang phrazes at home, and then they will
never slip off your tongue away from home,
when you are on your best behavior. Be po-
lite at home; that's the place to learn good
manners. Don't be stingy about saying
"thank you" "much obliged" "you're very
kind" to your good mothers and sisters in
your daily intercourse with them.
Don't be sneaking. Frequent the society
of sensible women, talk to them and hear
them talk, discuss books and public men,
and the topics of the day. If you do not un-
derstand the topics of the times, 60 to your
schoolmaster, or your doctor or your minister
and ask him to explain and simplify and
make it plain enough for your comprehension.
That is thousands better, more creditable to
yourself, and complimentary to him, than to
nod and pretend you understand, when you
do not.
Among your lady friends be sure you don't
intrude your confidence upon them; keep
your own counsel that is so much better than
to bore them with tales about your poor
selHyour untoward circumstances-the un.
kindness Of your relatives, the gloomy pros
poets ahead of you and all this kind of talk.
They can't assist you; they have trials per-
haps greater than your own, and you are
tax upon their ready sympathy.
When you enter room or church, don't
20 Aoundering in like caught fish, slashing
to the right and to the left, Tapping your coat
tails about like sails. Go gently and lightly,
and respectfully. Go to church in good
time that is genteel and speaks we'll for your
bringing up.
When you make calls, don't stay too long
and weary the ladies and don't, beg of
you, make the longest part of the call be-
tween your chair and the door, as some young
men do. Don't stand and finger the door
knob, and act as though you were examining
it to see if it infringed upon the patent you
are meditating. Such tricks are very annoy.
ing to the "girls you left behind you" and
very likely will provoke some sharp remarks
about the time you click the gate latch. If
you sit in rocking-chair while making calls,
don't for your own sake allow the chair to
gallop; it suggests the days Of bread-andsu
gar and rocking. horses.
I'll tell you one thing, boys, even though |
may violate confidence; there's nothing that
Aatters the vanity of girl or woman like
this pretty little respectful fashion Of touch
ing your hat, or lifting it slightly when you
bow to one of them. I've heard many Of
them say if boys knew how very charming
was the compliment conveyed, they'd be tilt.
ing and touching their hats all the time !
Boys, don't think you are irresistible; you
are not. The girls don't all want you, and
you must not wheedle yourself into the no.
tion that they do.
Be good listeners, think much, read we'll,
engage in all good works, attend church and
Sabbath.school always, and don't forget that
the basis of all good manners lies in your
own heart your kind heart, and don't forget
the Golden Rule is the embodiment of true
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