Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-05-28
THE SMALL couRTEslEs.
~ ODservlng Them the Friction Of Lii
Could lie Vastly MltlgAted.

~ouAQ be vastly MltlgAt0ds
The friction of life, which wears upon
health, nerves and temper, could be
vastly mitigated by the cultivation Of
common, everyday politeness. Tho
ruth Is that average poiitenessis super.
aciaL 1t expands itself In formalities;
In what Is called the payment of social
1ebts; IN the prompt return Of calls and
the exact rendition Of social obligations.
But the ordinary courtesy which ought
70 be everyday custom, or, rather, .
part OF the nature, Is woeiully neglect
I'd. Disregard OF propriety begins with.
the children. One can recall In their
acquaintance few families in which def
erence to age, respect for parental au-
thority, for the wisdom and experience
If their elders, have been inculcated
with regard for truth, honesty and puri-
~ OF thought and speech:
1t Is not required Of child that he
shall say good morning" when he en-
tors the room ut breakfast or good
night" when he leaves it for his bed. 1t
never occurs to him to rise and offer his
,hair to his parents, or discommode
himself In any way for the convenience
and comfort Of others, because he has
never boon taught to do SO.
With all the progress that has been
made In art and science, and In educa-
lion, so far as it pertains to the mind
and body, the bad breeding Of the Or
binary human boing appears only the
more glazing. Street cars and steam
cars are filled with men who spit inccs-
sanity, defiling the floor and frequently
the garments of those who, unfortu-
nately, must sit beside them; with gum
chewing men and women both, and
with persons who there discuss their
private affairs in tones that may be
overheard by the driver on the platform.
People with no understanding or up.
probation frequent the theater and
opera; they do not care to hear them
selves; they are there to be seen, or to
say that they went, and they ruin the
enjoyment of every body around them.
This vulgarity is not confined to the
poor and the ignorant. 1t is probably
moro common among those who, If they
have not the right natural instinct,
have had the opportunity to see and
learn.
Persons who consider themselves suf-
aciently courteous neglect the small
matters, although in the greater they
may be fastidiously exacting. They
ignore the questions in letters; they
neglect to return the book or whatever
slse may have been borrowed; or, II it
has been unavoidable delay fail to make
the explanation and apology that are
due. They fail to acknowledge by word
Or letter the favor they did not hesitate
to accept, and worse than all, discrim-
mate between the poor, the friendless,
and the rich and those who are greatly
sought
The neutrality-suspicious. act is like
the quality of mercy: it is twice blessed.
1t gives pleasure TO the recipient IL he
be of an appreciative nature, and it is a
benefit to the doer. 1t may be selfish
view to take of the question, but wom-
an can nor afford, for her dignity's sake,
to be. insolent overbearing and con-
GcLu ptu0uS AA AOA UO0OLACAAU "a VuVSo WIN
are, perhaps, erroneously classified as
her social interiors. Noblesse oblige;
the greater her advantages, financially,
mentally and in point Of birth-for
birth may be an advantage even in a
democratic repuhlic-the more should
be required of Ter in every way.
Indifference to the feelings of an
equal may DO simple rudeness; to one
who in sore rpspecB psY be tfs IT,
ferloE bit by 10 mRnS II GIL, RS lit
onl y$tud ensss #but"H iS~So&atdkeaS il
we'll, forit il tskiag Rdya4kagepf
Atsens whigh Rornik Reihsra4@e
Tor retaliation. IN all the modern
struggle for culture it is too much Gull
tivation of brains alone. Intelligence
that is we'll bred Is ten. times as useful
as that which makes mere intellectual
ability an excuse for all sins of omis-
sion or commission in this enlight-
ened ago no m&n, thoheh he be as wise
Is Solomon, has righthto be q boor.
No woman has a right to be other than
a gentlewoman, and the more talent,
genius and learning they possess, the
more gracious and refined should be
the manner.-Chicago Inter-Ocean,