Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1889-01-04
LEARNING MANNERS.
How an OId-Time SchoolmaBter laugh
Etiquette to His scholars.

How an Old-Time Schoolma8ter Taught
Etiquette to His scholars.
The father of Alexander ii. Stephens
was Georgia schoolmaster, and, as
will be seen by the following extract
from his sons account of him, he be-
lieved in teaching some things not
contained in the textbooks. We dare
say some of the older readers will be
ready to wish that they could have had
such a master. About once a month,
on a Friday evening, after the spelling
class had got through. their tasks, he
had an exercise in ceremony. which
the scholars called learning man
ners." ~.A%tA +"
The exercise consisted in going
through the usual form of salutation
on meeting an acquaintance, and in
Producing persons to one another with
other occasional variations. These
forms were taught during the week,
and the pupils proficiency was tested
on the occasions am speaking Of.
At the appointed hour on the Friday
evening, at given signal, books were
laid aside and recessof few minutes
given. Then all would reassemble and
take seats in rows on opposite benches,
the boys on one side and the girls on
the other. The boy at the head of the
row would rise and walk toward the
center of the room, and the girl at the
head of her row would rise and pro
coed toward the Bame spot As they
approached, the boy would bow and
the girl drop courtesy and they
would then pass on = ...'f. FFFT
At other times they were taught 10
stop and exchange verbal salutations,
and the usual formulas of polite in
quiry, after which they retired, and
We're followed by the next pair. u &
These exercises were varied by meet
ings in an imaginary parlor-the en-
trance, introduction and reception of
visitors, with practice in common
place chat" TO Use his own phrase,
suited to the supposed occasion. Then
came the ceremony of ipdications.
The parties in this case would walk
from opposite sides Of the room in
pairs, and upon meeting, after the
salutations OF the two agreed
upon, would commence making known
10 each other the friends accompany
ing them; the boy saying: ALLOW me,
Miss Mary, to present to you my friend,
Mr. Smith. Mr.. Smith Miss Jones. y
Whereupon, after Miss Mary had
spoken TO Mr.. Smith, she would in turn
introduce her friends. ~ -
These exercises, trivial as the de-
scription may seem, we're Of great use
to raw country boys and girls, remov-
ing their awkwardness and consequent
shyness, and the painful sense of being
ut II disadvantage, or the dread flap
pearing ridiculous, They were do
lighted in by the scholars, especially
by the larger boys and girls, some of
whom were nearly or quite grown.
Frequently, when tho weather was
fine, p rents aud ncighbors would come
10 the school house on these Friday
evenings to witness the ceremonies.
When such visits were expected, the
girls would dress a little more smartly
than usual, and the boys would fix
themselves up at the spring, washing,
combing, and giving an ornamental
adjustment popularity called a roach"
to their hair; and the conversation, Of
surprising politoness and elegance,
WIS extremely amusing. 49, Youths Com
pdni0a, .-.. .--