Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-26
POINTS ON POLITENESS.

Should be NOrn-CelluiOfd Collars and
Cuffs Not the Proper Caper.
TwRITTEN FOR THE DIsPATcH.l
The author of Don't" in addition to
giving some points on etiquette, presents a
communication on the evil of the tobacco
chewer in society. The habit is strongly
condemned. and its votaries are unmerci-
fully scored. The question seems to resolve
itself into charge of unchivalrous conduct
on the part of the American man toward the
American woman.
A couple, when attending church and passing
down the aisle to a seat should the gentleman
precede or follow the lady? READER.
We have answered this question before, but
will repeat our answer At theater or con-
cert the gentleman necessarily precedes the
lady, because he knows or is supposed to know,
where the seats are situated and the way
thereto; at church the gentleman precedes the
lady because it is his province to open the pew
door. The gentleman in all such cases is the
conductor, the guide; he leads in order that he
may clear away obstacles, in case of a crowd, to
obtain a passage, to act always as protector
To come behind is the duty of a servant.
What is the proper thing for children to say
In replying YES and mo" TO questions asked
them by both male and female?
A BEwILDERED MOTHER.
There is no term that is applicable to both
sexes or that will do for either sex If two
persons ask child q question at the same mo-
ment breach of manners has occurred. and
one or the other should withdraw his or her
question. But it is not necessary for child
always to say 'sir'' or ''ma'am;" in fact accord
ing to the rules of the best circles, a child
should be taught to say "Yes, uncle" mo,
aunt, Yes, papa" " instead OF "Yes, sir" mo,
ma'am" etc.; and often plain 'yes'' or mo"
may be used, if the tone is respectful. The
Americans are accused of using ''sir" to ex-
cess. Its over-frequent introduction in CONVEX
sation being thought vulgar.
WHERE TO WEAR SILK HAT.
What are the rules in regard to wearing the
hat? Is it proper to wear silk hat with
sack coat7 A. B. ID.
With Americans great license prevails in
wearing the hat In England, On the contrary,
the rules are very strict and certain modifca-
tions of them have been adopted by few club
men here. According to the English dictum,
silk hat that is high hatl should be worn
with frock coat, but never with sack coat,
or jacket as this article is designated by En-
glishmen The Derby hat, as we call it must
be worn only with a sack coat: but neither the
sack coat nor the Derby hat is admissible on
the promenade or in the 'city," these articles
being limited to the train or country soft
hat should never be worn except when travel
ing on sporting occasions. 1t would be alb
surd to follow the English strictly in wearing
the hat, but they are worth needing: and allow
ing for differences of climate, may be advah-
tageously followed in some instances. Let us
atleast not wear silk hat with sack coat
What is your opinion of wearing celluloid
collars and cuffs? &c, B.
No lady or gentleman should wear anything
but linen collars and cuffs Celluioid collars
are about as vulgar as paper collars which men
so much used few years ago. Linen is the
only proper wear and that should be white and
Immediately clean.
DON'T WEAR OUT YOUR WELCOME.
am invited in the country for few days.
How long would 1t bepropsr to stay under such
an invitation? INQUIRER.
Not more than three or at the utmost four,
days. A visitor to a country house should al
ways remember that other visitors may be ex-
pected at definite day, and therefore should
not postpone departure beyond the allotted
time.
Are white or spotted linen shirts preferable
for summer wear in the country?
Fancy colored linen shirts have no advantage
over shirts of white linen, inasmuch as they
Soil just as easily. oolored wooden shirts Of
fine texture are appropriate for boating yacht
ing, pedestrian excursions, picnics, etc, hence
for all occasions when white linen is not used
they form a suitable substitute. Butdecorated
linen is neither useful nor tasteful, however
fashionable it may be.
Nv friend from Baltimore always calls her
overshoes gums" Is this right2 BESSIE.
And in other places overshoes are commonly
called rubbers or India rubber, which is about
as bad Call these articles ''overshoes." There
is no necessity for designating the material Of
which an article of the kind is made.
We have received not a few letters comment
ing upon the almost universal masculine habit
of splitting. Our correspondent has favored us
With an account of an experience in New
York horse car, which we wish all the tobacco
chewers and spitters in the country would
lion
OUR NATIONAL HABIT.
There were five of them; three on the opposite
side of the car and two my side; all were uncom-
fortably near, and each man was industriously
occupied in decorating the floor Of the vehicle
with discharges of saliva. Three were tobacco
chewers, and their copious cofee-colorcd expec-
torationE soon made uhsavory pools at their feet;
the other two discharged white saliva which was
only little less copious and nzuseating than the
other variety. 30 persistent and so Jealous were
these five men in this occupation that it looked
n they might have been hired to sit there and spit
My cheeks Jingled at first with indignation, but
presently the wholeNhing began to impress me as
amusing. Were not these men simply exercising
their natural privilege of expectorating where 4
and much as they pleased: They paid their fare;
and a car Is public vehicle in which everybody |
is as gonG as anybody else; and what is the noor
sB5EEsy, but something to tread upon and spit |
upon! Their reply TO any protest might have |
made would have been advice energetically ex- |
pressed TO the effect that IL didn't like their do
tell them thai they were making the floor very |
nasty, and that everybody who came in would /
have TO tread in the fifth; that women's skirts |
would fall into il that the right their fares gave
them was TO travel in the and TO soil IL at
their pleasure-to have told them all this would 1
have excited their amaZement and their ire. /
The right to spit to them as natural /
as the right to breathe-they had never doubted It
were nOt people OF the lowest class They were /
dressed tolersbly well. and considered themselves
respectable citizens abide in their own houses? /
Did they the hoors of the passages the stair
that the most insensible would scarcely call orna-
mental? Did they ana their wives and their /
of tobacco juice2 Ana then did they spit all day I
long persstently and theoretically as they were
homes, or follow them in their vocations-to see |
and hear them for duration Of ten minutes was |
more than enough.
A GRoTEsoUE PICTURE.
And yet was amused. L had Just been reading
one Of Frederick HArrisonis brilliant essays on /
the ''Worship Of HUmanity''-the new religion /
which makes mankind the object Of worship and |
reverence-and thought OF humanity-With big
Has universal tobacco chewer, as an embodied I
expression Of expectOraton and Of worshiping It'll
The picture seemed little grotesque, and irreve-
rent laughter sprang to my lips
am afraid that the thought OF man as a spitter
as chewer OF tobacco, as a being ceaselessly
e1ectlnR unsavory streams from his mouth, is fa-
in reason. ;, excizims Hsnlet sin form and NOV
ihk- nov express ANA admirable In action how