Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-10-02
~ TIE
Evening Capital.
FRIDAY, OCT. 2, 1886.
Courtesics aud Dlscourtcsics.

There are many conrtesies which
gentleman should render to lady, tho
absence Of which is at once felt, and
causes people 20 involuntarily remark
inwardly 70 themselves. IL not aloud 20
their friends. THAT man has not good
Manners | passed that judgment tile
other evening when | was sitting with
friend bv her fireside. A gcntleman
was ushercd in who was well knowll to
NV friend. but a comparative stranger
to me. He shook hands with her FIRST,
which was, of course. tho right thing
70 do. and then. while speaking TO her,
he shook hands with me. The breaker
Of this law Of courtesy was a young
professional man, we'll endowed with
this worlds goods. | should not re-
cord this little rudcness If 1t was only
Of rare occurrence. but ! often notice
people guilty of this disconrtesy-
namely, that of shaking hands with
one person while they are speaking TO
another person. II you wish to say
more than How do you dop' to your
hostess, or TO any ono else whom you
greet at first, it Is less discourteous 10
continue your conversation with her
for few moments before taking notice
OF any one near her. than ii Is to stretch
out your hand and shake that of her
neighbor while your face is turned
away and your lips are addressing an
other person.
The discourteous young man to
whom have alluded gave me another
reason for my verdict, and as in this
respect also be is by no means the only
offender in general society, | shall
mention tue little rudeness. There are
three. IL not more. separate syllables
and sounds which some people utter or
make when they have not heard what
has been said to them, or when they
wish to express assent These are
WhatP EhP UhP and cultural sound
of the letter m, which can not be ex-
pressed in writing. II beg your par
DOM or What did you sayP' are
sentences which should certainly be
said when a repetition is asked for;
and Eyes" should not be replaced by o
grunt when an assent Is given.
There are numerous little acts which
man of courtesy will perform. While
he is calling at house, he will rise
and open the door for any lady who
leaves tho room. even If she Is an en-
tire stranger 10 him; in his own house
he viii not only open the door of the
room, but accompany the lady to the
hall door, aud open that, if there is no
servant at hand to do SO, for = depart
ing guest, whether lady or gentleman,
should not bo left TO find their way
alone. Neither should they be allowed
to find their way into Il room. When
YOU act as host, and your guests ac-
company you iuto the drawing-room,
do not you, my dcar sir, follow the
practice of some forgctful or neglcctful
men, who walk in and march straight
up the room. leaving their one guest,
or train, as the case may be, To fol-
low and TO close the door. A host
should open the door. and shut II
after his guests have entered the
room.
Among other small courtcsies GEN.
tleman win raise from his char, how
ever luxuriously comfortable, ana otler
assistance, if need be. 10 Il LADY if she
goes to put Goals on the fire. or if she
tries 20 open or close Il window When
he escorts her into room, he will see
that she is seated before he looks for q
chair for himself; when he escorts her
TO table, he will wait 10 arrange Tor
her comfort, hold the chair, or push it
backward or forward, rs required, be-
fore he takes his own seat. And DUR
ing the meal he will see that she is pro-
vided with all she is likely 10 want.
The lady ought not TO be obliged 10
ask for salt. for water, for another cup
of tea. or, in fact. Tor anything that IS
on the table. From Cassei,' Aagazins
for September.