The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-02-15
AMERICAN SOCIAL CUSTOMS
We Treat Women With Less Insult
ing Condescens.on Than the En-
glish Do.

We Treat Women With Less Insult
ing Condescens!on Than the En-
glish Do.
In Bryce's American Commonwealth
occurs a passage which is very compli-
mentary to our manne and especially to
II treatment of women. According 10
this authority a European cannot spend
an evening in an American drawing room
without perceivipg that the attitude OF
the men to the women is not that with
which he is familiar at lone. The aver
age European man has usually a slight
condescension when he talks to a woman
on senous subjects. Even if she is his
superior in.intellect, in character, in social
rank. he thinks that us q man he is her
superior, and consciously OF uncon-
sclousiy talks down to her. She is too
much accustomed to this to resent il, uu.
lesslt becomes tastelessly palpable. Such a
NOTION does not cross an Americans mind.
de talks to a woman just as he would 10
a man, OF course with more Difference of
manner and with a proper regard for the
topics likely to interest her, but giving
her his intellectual best, addressing her
as a person whose opinion is understood
by both to be worth as much as his own.
Similarly an American lady does not ex.
pect to have conversation made TO her.
1t is just as much her duty or pleasure to
lead 1t as a mans is, and more often than
not she takes the burden from him.
darling along with a gay ~vivacity which
puts 10 shame his slower wits. 1t need
hardly be said that in all cases
where the two sexes come into compe,i.
ton for comfort the provision is made
first for women.
Three causes combine to create among
American women an average of literary
t-ste and influence higher than that Of
any European country. These are the
educational facilities they enjoy, the rec
ognltlon OF the equality of sexes in the
whole social and intellectual sphere and
the leisure which they possess as com
pared TO men. In a country where men
are necessarily occupied at their business
or profession the function of keeping up
the level of culture devolves upon wo-
men. 1t is safe in their hands.
What is the effect of social equality
upon manners? Many causes go to the
making of manners, as one may see by
noting how much better they All. in some
parts of Europe than in other parts.
where, nevertheless, the structure of SO
clety Is equally aristocratic or democratic
as the case may be. One must, there
fore, be careful not to ascribe to this
source only such pecnlia1ities as America
shows. On the whole, bearing in mind
that the English race has less than some
other races of that q%uickness of percep-
ton and sympathy which goes far 10
make manners good. the Americans
have gained more than they lost
by equality. ! do not think that
The upper class loses in grace. |
am sure that the humber class gains
in independence. The manners of the
best people are exactly those of Eng
land, with a thought moro OF considera-
ton toward interiors and frankncss to-
ward equals. Among the masses there is.
generally speaking, rs much real courtesy
aud good nature as anywhere else in the
world. There is lees outward politeness
than in some parts of Europe-Portugal,
for instance, or Tuscany or Sweden.
There is q certain GOODNESS or oGhanded.
ness which at first annoys q European
visitor, who still thinks himself "a super
lor. Blu when he perceives that it is not
meant for i%nsolence, and that the native
Americans do not notice 1t, he learns to
acquiesce.