The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1879-07-19
Some of the Absurdities of Society

An anecdote is told of prettily,
dressed little girl who fell the other
DAY on a muddy street crossing,
and gentlemen FASTENED to her
assistance. After cleaning off her
clothes, he asked if he shouldn't
escort her home. "No, thir," an.
swsred the little damsel "if you
/ please, we amt been introduced. >
The little girl doubtless reflected
the sentiments that she had heard
at home. We think many people
are too punctliious in their notions
about the impropriety of recogniz-
ing one to whom they have not been
introduced. Persons will live a
long time as neighbors, look at each
others faces when they meet, and
yet never exchange salutation,
because they have not been intro
duceL d! And SO they will 60 to the
same church, attend the social
religious meetings, and look ex-
pectantly at each other, but never
exchange word Of recognition,
because by chance they have not
been introduced. Says Mrs. A, 81
met Mrs. B. to-day, and she looked
as though she would like to have
spoken to me, and l should have
been glad if she had but / didn't
want to speak first, because | have
never been introduced 10 her" A
short time ago, we witnessed the
introduction of two ladies at a
social gathering. The greeting
between them was very cordial.
Says Mrs. F., 81 have been dying
to speak TO you for long time, but
didn't dare TO, because we hadn't
been introduced" Said Mrs. F.,
"That's just the way | have fel,,
and have wondered ii we ever should
get introduced" Now if both these
ladies desired an acquaintance, and
their manners toward each other
fully showed it, why should they
have allowed months Of what would
have proved a pleasant acquaintance
and friendship 70 pass away, simply
because no third psrson happened
to give them ALI Introduction TO each
other? And SO between lady and
gentlemen, where their social posi-
lion is equal, there may be the same
amount OF over -punctlllousness. We
would by no means have that social
etiquette repealed which establishes
the rule that an introduction shall
take place before an acquaintance
IS formed but ones own good
sense and judgment should tell him
where an exception to the rule may
be safely made. Even in case ofan
Introduction, it is nol III accordance
with etiquette unless both parties
have been consulted and signitied
their pleasure. Then if Two, by
each others manner, are satisfied
that an acquaintance would be
mutually desirable, why should they
wait week after eek for the OPP
portunity to occur tor third party
TO introduce them Why should
they not introduce themselves?
To have been altogether consist
ent, the little girl ii the incident
related at the beginning OF this
article should have Indignantly re
scented the act OF kindness commit
ted by the gcntlemaI in picking her
up from the mud and brushing tho
dIrt from her dress. More consist,
ent was the Frenchman who related
TO another how he saw man down
in the Seine. Said the disciple of
Chesterfield : Il saw the poor man
tall into the river, and struggle close
to the bank for two OF three nm
utes, and then he sank and was
drowned" ''But couldn't you have
helped him out, If YOU tried much 2"
asked the other, with some surprise.
"Oh, yes" replied the tastidlous
Frenchman 81 could have pulled
him out without any danger to my
self; but then, you must know, |
had never been introduced to the
gentleman" We fear there are too
many IN the community who are
almost as ultra in their notions on
this matter as was that Frenchman.