St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-07-14
CHILDREN'S MANNERS.
Example the Best Teacher of Which Par,
ents Can Avail Themselves.

Example the Best Teacher of Which Par.
ents Can Avail Themselves.
Children should be instructed and
encouraged to perform little Offices of
kindness for the guests in the house,
such as seeing to water, towels, ETC.,
in the guest chamber, but they should
be carefully trained to knock at
the door before entering any ones
bedroom. | have many times suffer-
ed great annoyance from neglect of
this on the part of children, who
would rush in upon me unaware5
whilst would be dressing.
Of course. the greatest pains should
be taken with matters of everyday
concern to children-their manners at
table, their manners toward each
other, their treatment of the aged, etc,
etc. In this country, where the way
is open to all to obtain great wealth or
high official position, one often meets
in society persons whose behavior is
sadly at variance with the princi-
pies laid down by Chesterfield, whose
every gesture evinces clearly an entire
lack of early training in even the COM
moner forms of politeness. To put it
then ON no higher ground than this, to
prevent embarrassment and confusion
of face, let parents who have at heart
the interests of their children strive tC
make them agreeable, as well as use
full mem bers of society. TO this end
see that they are instructed in all the
little courtesies that form the agree
able side of life But to look at things
from higher point of view, teach
them to make the most Of themselves,
because it is right to do SO; because all
the rules of politeness have their
reason for being, their foundation, in
an unselfish regard for the feelings and
comfort of others.
Teach children-even very little ones
to treat the opinions of others with
courtesy, not to argue or wrangle
among themselves and especially with
those older than themselves, to yield
point gracefully even when they are in
the right about matter of fact or
opinion; to rise respectfully when
stranger or old person enters the room,
to give up the most comfortable seat
nearest the fire or the light, to avoid
passing between others when talking,
or between them and the fire, to apollo
gize gracefully for any inadvertent
mistake or accident this between and
among themselves, aud it will become
easy and natural for them to do so at
all times and among all kinds OF people.
Here example has tenfold force. Speak
to them politely, as if they were your
equals. Ask them, do not order them
to do service for you; have regard
for their feelings; do not cast redec-
tions upon them, upon defects of per-
son or of mind, remembering, though,
all the time that they are to be trained
to habits of obedience and Difference to
superiors and elders.
Such course pursued by parents
towards their children would do much
to prevent that estrangement and want
of sympathy which so often arises be-
tween parents and children in after
years, when the children have gone
out into the world for themselves. Let
parents have care to keep abreast of
their children in all the proprieties of
dress, speech and behavior, and the
children will not come to regard them
as lacking in that polish and refine
ment which are requisite to make a
good appearance in the eyes of our
neighbors and the larger world be-
yond. -Philadelphia Press.