Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-06-20
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Bows. he Eenteel.

Yes. BOYS. we saw ii 70 you; boys from
twelve To twenty and upward. be genteel
Now, by this, don't mean put on airs.
wear jewelry. tilt your hats on one side,
smoke cigars, aspire TO fast horses. and
call your father the "old man." not by
any means. True gentility is man.
liz, courteous. self respecting. po-
| lite. Some Of you forget this. and need
frequent promptings know, for have
been at 1.-The store" and the post Office in
your country town on a summers after
noon and have seen you congregaie on
the sunny side of the building, and have
studied your attitudes and motions.
/ know very well that you are indusiri-
ons-at least, many OF you-and enterpris-
| ing. Some Of you are excellent scholars.
good in arithmetic and geometry. and able
to spell down the city cousins of your
age without half trying. You have
no bad HABITS; you are generally kind
and belpful toward the mother and sisters I;
some Of you older ones did good service
for your country in war times. y yes 4
respect your virtues and applaud your
good deeds. but all the more do depre-
cate your awkward manners. Your gaip
is stumbling and slipshod; your shouts
ders are thrust forward. till you look actu-
ally buochbacked; your hands are deep
in your pockets. your hat crowded down
upon your eyes; your hair is not smooth
you often forget 'good morning" when
YOU enter or leave house; and when you
sit down in the presence OF ladies. your
feet are great embarrassment. You
don't seem To know what to do with them.
and have csten wished out of compass
sion. that yaa could have the temporary
privilege Of wearing long skirts TO cover
them Forgive me, boys!
II Is not always true. AS some assert.
that refinement of mind will manifest
itself in refinement of manner. | have
known highly educated people who were
very awkward. You should cultivate ease
of department, a calm and self possessed
demeanor. 1t will give you more self
respect and win the respect OF those who,
not unreas6nably, look for indications of
character in the personnel and manners Of
man. Nothing which may increase your
with others, is to be regarded as
90 trivial to receive attention.
And. boys, wish to say another thing
be careful of your language. | will not
now refer to profanity and slang. because
benefit of boys and young men on those
fruitful topics refer not to faulty gram
mar. Many of you are good grammarians.
md are perfectly aware of the incorrect
ness of your speech yet carelessness. and
much mingling with those who are ignor-
Int, make your conversation hotch- potch,
hat to hear. would be terrible trial to
Mr.. Richard Grant White. Why will you
,ay Il done it," and 81 seen it?"-though |
you are not alone in this, boys; for | once
boarded at table VITA five school teach
ers, and three of them made frequent use
Of these elegant expressions. Aud don't
say, chad went" and "should have went
II haven't no Coffee" or 81 want them |
BEANS" Never say. "him and me did it'
Or 1.-The children wasn't to blame"
Think little. boys, and make up your
minds to correct these faults, and when
your minds are mind us-pers evere.-l
EEJ IE Wick