The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-08-07
a CHAPTER ON GOOD MANNERS

A CHAPTER ON GOOD MANNERS
Few Rules for Boys, Which They WI
| DO Well to Read and Practice.
Some boys think it effeminate and at
fected to be polite and considerable {.
| others.
Now everybody likes heartiness in
boy; but is it not possible for a boy t,
be open and hearty and manly and hav,
well-bred manners also? !, for one, dc
not see why it is not. In fact, some o.
the most agreeable boys 1 have evel
met have had very good manners in
deed. but they were just as manly, Just
as full of spirits, just as fond of sport,
Just as genuine boys. as many of theil
companions who were not nearly So
well-bred. Let me ask if boy is any
more manly boy because he Grams his
mouth full when he is eating? Is he
likely to play better hand at base ball
because he sits at dinner with his ell
bows on the table?
But what are good manners? All of
as know something as to what they are.
We all know and practice some of the
rules OF good breeding. The most of
Us are not rs bad as we might be
there is some comfort in that have
seen boys jostle people on the sidewalk
very rudely. but l have never seen q
boy so rude that he would Intentionally
run against an infirm old lady.
Now don't imagine that good man.
1ers make one stiff, or that they make
one uncomfortable, ike a badly fitting
coat Good manners may be Just as
natural as bad manners, Just as easy
and matter-of-cours as speaking or
laughing. This is the sort of good
manners that we ought to have, so that
1t would be just as easy for us to do the
right thing as it would be to do the
wrong thing. We must make our good
manners our second nature; and they
will become anybody's second nature.
IT one will take care to practice them.
Let one observe all the rules carefully
for time, and by and by one will OBJ
serve the rules without stopping to
think about them. In fact, it will be-
come just as easy to be polite a. to play
Or work.
There are good many rnles Of good |
manners, what one must not do, and
what one must do. but it seems to me |
that the most important of all the rules |,
3 to be kind-hearted. The boy who |
does kindly things may make a few
in little matters, but every- |
body will like and respect him. The
lind hearted boy who picks up . hat
hat an old gentleman has dropped has
loQe polite thing. IS well IS q kind
hearted thing. And the boy who takes
he trouble to show lady the right
way to go has also done q polite as well
g kiAd-hearted thing.
But q boy may have q kind heart and
he best Intentions in the world, and vet
orget to do some things that he ought
do. or do things that he ought not to
o. de may. for instance, have kind
cart and forget to take off his hat to :
aides; or he may have kind heart, and
OF know that he should not whistle in
be presence of his elders, or drum on
seat or the wall. or beat with his feet
q the floor. or make noises of any kind
hen other people are BY.
There are some very pleasant observ-
noes that one should never forget, and
hich are an essential part Of good
lanners Don't forget every morning
salute all the members of the family =
it'll ..good-morning." and at night up
. retiring good night" goodnight
nd good-morning are very pleasant
lings to hear. and young people should
ever omit them. n
When you enter your school-room, q
y 'good-morning" to the teacher, and =
good evening" when you leave in the 5 :
ternoon.
Never burst boisterously into a room
1der any circumstances. Enter b
iietiy, and Il there is company there. e
lutte them with polite bow and a d
yood-day" or '.good-morning." You !
ed not shake hands with the visitorx-
less they first Offer to do so. q
Never interrupt people when they are a
king. It i not right for young peo- il
to force themselves into a CONVEX v
ton going on between older people :
sspond promptly to anv question that :
~ be asked and II You happen to =
low anything special about a subject > !
'>~0A ~.sSu5S1Ou you may say: Par ~
n me, or EXCUSE me-" Mr.. Brown.
: whatever the name may BEL, but 9
q 60 ON to say what you have to say, = I.
there Is willingness shown to listen 3
you.
Don't lounge. Stretching ones self q q
the sofa or lolling ON the chairs IS y =
~ bad breeding. Never sit with your =
ar tipped back. This is very vulgar. :,
Don't Be fidgety. Don't when in com ~
ny play with the curtains. Of the tss- =.
9. or with anything else. Don't = =
ri chair, or play with the door. or y
ep up continued restlessness. One - -
cessary thing in good manners is to =
quiet and self-restrained when in the =. -
ssence Of other people. y
Don't shout every time you want to :.
AZ. whether indoors OF out Some o
- fairly shout ut play-fellows who
only > few feet of and who couId -
= without difficulty everything =.
ken in m ordinary voice =
Never fail in the school-room To Ia -
Pectful to the master, kind to the ~
al boys and diligent in your studies. g g.
n