The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-01-05
A BOYS HAT.

a Few Words Politeness, by Aunt
Marjorie Precept.
81 hunted all over the house for my
hat, and where do you suppose it was
all the while? On my head" And
Bob threw himself on the rug at my
feet, and laughed merrily at his alb
sence of mind. why don't you laugh,
Aunt Marjorie?" he asked. Don't
you think it was queer that I didn't
feel it, and aren't you afraid I'm going
to be like grandpapa, who goes hunt
ing for his spectacles when they are on
his forehead in plain sight?"
Your hair is so thick and curly,
Bob DEAR" was my reply, after mo-
ment's gaze into the bright blue eyes,
land your hat is such a light affair,
that Pm not surprised at your not feel
ing it on your head. But the reason l
didn't laugh was this: l was shocked
at your keeping your hat on your head
in the house-at your habit of doing
this. Why, my dear, you could do few
things more ungentlemanly. A mans
hat, Bob, should come off the instant
he sets foot within his own door"
Don't you think, aunty," said the
boy, roguishly, that you attach
good deal of Importance to trifies?"
MAY be so" said l; "but you must
remember that in etiquette there are
no trifles. Every little thing is really
important. The uncovering of the
IN Naus &c CT Of lafon
ence to the mistress of the house, and
to the ladies and girls who live in it
sign that boy respects his mother
and sisters"
Mamma is very much mortified"
said Bob, ''if l keep my hat on in tho
parlor when she has company. But
fellow forgets once in awhile, Aunt
Marjorie.
"A fellow never forgets," said, ''if
he is in the habit of always doing the
right thing. Once establish the habit,
Bob. and you could no more lounge
into the parlor with a hat on than you
could keep your hat on in the school
room after the professor had called
the classes to order"
Bob gave a low, amused whistle. 81
think 1 see myself doing that" he
chuckled. Wouldn't old Feverfew
growl, though! l should find myself
with a hundred lines to write after
school. But, Aunt Marjorie, to whom
should boy lift his hat in the street,"
ITO his father, of course, and to his
mother and his mothers friends; to
the girls he knows; to a lady, even a
stranger, if she asks him to tell her the
way. or if he performs any service for
her."
Its an awful bother" remarked
Bob, plaintively.
There is your mistake, my dear. 1t
is no bother, but, in fact, is done so
naturally by gentleman or q gentle
manly boy that he never thinks of the
thing as q trouble. He lifts his hat
automatically whenever there is any
reason to do So"
Automatically Isn't that ire
men-dous word. Aunt Marjorie? What
does it mean?"
ut means this, Bob: When one does
q thing ones self SO well and SO easily
that one has not to think about it in
the doing, it is said to be done auto
matically. When you began to learn
the banjo you picked the notes out
slowly, and thought about every one,
but you can play dozen tunes to-day
and think Of something else while you
are playing. You breathe automatic
ally, unless you take cold and every
breath causes you pain. You read au-
tomatically. Doesn't it seem like a
dream that you once had to spell your
words over slowly?"
al see," said Bob.
while we're talking on this sub
ject let me remind you of something
else. A gentleman-and boy, If
well-bred. is as much gentleman at
ten as at twonty-always rises when q
lady comes into the room, and waits
until she has taken seat before he
resumes his own. He gives his mother
the most comfortable chair, and Is at
pains to place a hassoek for her feet,
and to set the lamp where its light will
fall pleasantly on her book. A boy
who thinks of these little things IS
always favorite wherever he goes. -
RGrpeS's Young People.