The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-29
MISPLACED COURTESY.


Man Picks Up . Package But the Owner
Refuses to Take It.
There have been a good many letters
written TO the newspapers recently. and
consequently no little discussion, about
the decline of ourtesy"-women's neg
lect to show gratitude for mems little
c1vilities and mems unwillingness to
sacrifice themselves for women who are
strangers to them. A favorite example
has been that of yielding seats in horse
cars and elevated trains Perhaps some
one had just been reading one of these
letters. At any rate, the conversation
turned toward this sub .ect and each
man began to give his views on the sub
ject.
II don't know how other people feel
about it" said the senior of the group, a
man about fifty years old, of dignifed
appearance and courtly in demeanor,
"but find that when am tempted to
keep my seat and see woman stand
am ashamed of myself. Something
makes me feel cheap, so that haven't
the courage to look her or any one else
in the eyes. For my own peace of mind,
therefore, prefer to give up my seat
and stand, however tired I am must
say that have seldom met women who
failed to recognize this little compli-
ment to their sex by some sign of ap-
probation, a pleasant nod, a graceful
smile or quiet and conventional
thank you Perhaps this is because
am getting old, but that is neither here
nor there.
Il can say, though, with perfect truth
that have had one experience where a
well-intended act of courtesy not only
did not elicit any word of thanks, but on
the contrary caused the woman evident
annoyance. And / could hardly blame
her, although l was terribly embar-
raised by her curt manner.
Il was in Boston at the time and went
to the Boston Museum to get seats for
one of Booths perform ances. There
was long line before the box office
when took my place at the end. The
one in line before me was a woman,
handsomely but quietly dressed. The
people moved so slowly and the wait was
80 wearisome that we kept no direct
line, but were turned, some one way,
some another. In this way could not
fail to not ce the woman's wonderful
complexion. 1t was dazzling in its del
icate tints of rose and white, and one
could almost see the roses in her cheek
fade and blush by turns. I am afraid
that found her complexion so perfect
that l was impolite enough to stare at
her moment when / thought she was
not looking my way, for she turned her
head and after that / could only see the
pink and white of two delicately-
fashioned ears.
selected her seats and was opening her
pocketbook to pay for them small
package slipped from her hands. I saw
it and grabbed at it to catch it before it
struck the marble of the floor OF
course l missed it, and as it fell heard
slight crash of glass. Picking it up
hurriedly, offered it to her, but she
crisply declined to touch it, saying:
please let it lie on the floor
81 stood there rather sheepishly, hold
ing it, when I felt cold, cream-like
mixture steal between my fingers.
Looking at the package 1 saw, to my
horror, that the wrapper had been torn
enough to show on bottles side just
two words, Face Enamel The woman
had started for the stairs with crimson
hue in her cheeks that no enamel, no
paint, not even the most highly colored
brush of nature, could equal. AS for me,
/ dropped the bottle with crash and
fed like a coward, not waiting for my
tickets. AS made my escape 1 heard
several smokers. They were all
women's. IN Y. Tribune.