Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-09-25
WHAT GOOD FORM.
ussring Customs In Different Countries
r,,suette Among Various Peoples.

etiquette Among various Peoples.
That etiquette is sometimes arbitrary
md not covered by the definition of
Common sense set to rule is shown by
,Se widely varying customs in different
mart. of the world.
Pan American going up or down
Fairs in a public hotel does not feel it
;rcumbent on him to remove his hat if
lady should be on the stairs. In
10 grrope it would be- considered very
.nde if a man did not uncover under
such circumstances. An American,
entering a parlor. expects the lady of
The house to rise and greet him.
In Spain lady would seem to for
tait her sef-respect should she ex-
bbit so much forwardness. No one
aver saw man and a woman arm in
arm in the streets of Spanish city
without knowing they were foIeigners.
A Spanish husband even never takes
his wfe's arm in public. Nor would
Spanish woman receive male visitor
alone. Such is the system of protection
exercised over women by hidalgo,
crandee, tradesman and peasant in the
Sunny land of romance.
Among the notable guests at the
Constitutional Centennial banquet in
the Philadelphia Academy of Music, in
September. 1887, were the Chinese
Envoys no accompanied Count Nit
Liwez to his country in connection
with the concessions to a Philadelphia
syndicate. During the evening note
was handed 70 the chief envoy. a grave
looking, elderly man. He was
troubled for moment, and then made
an elaborate apology in French for the
rudeness of which he was compelled
to be guilty namely, the wearing Of
his spectacles in company long enough
to read the note. 1t is gross breach
Of etiquette for Chinaman to wear
eyeglasses or spectacles in company,
and it is equally impolite to enter a
room with the hat off. A gentleman
Of the Celestial Kingdom always re-
mains covered to show his respect.
Another piece of Chinese etiquette
noticeable at the banquet was that, al
though the evening was fine. the en-
VOWS wore rubber overshoes until they
reached the Academy cloakroom, and
removed them prior to entering the
amphitheater. Chinese etiquette for
bids man to enter a room with soiled
shoes and consequently, overshoes are
worn until arriving at the house.
An American would never think of
removing his hat prior to speaking to
any man on the street. In Holland be-
fore speaking to the most humble in
dividual out of doors Il man uncovers.
In Holland. too. men and women rare
" purchase at the same stores, but in
case where they do. if woman dis
covers that men are assembled inside
she retires until they leave. A live
American store-keeper would probably
soon change this feature of Dutch
etiquette. The Americans English
Germans and Russians shake hands
with man in bidding him welcome.
An Arabs greeting is to rub his cheek
against that of the person he salutes
and kiss him. A Frenchman welcomes
friend by embracing and kissing him.
though by slow degrees this custom is
being superseded.
The japanese customs are similar to
those of China. 1t is not an unusual
sight to see a number of Japanese re-
move their sandals, cross their hands
and cry Spare mel" when great
man passes. but the custom is rapidly
going out of vogue since the leaven of
enlightenment has been spreading
through the land. A peculiar mark OF
esteem in Burmah is to ask permission
to smell PERSONS face, and then de-
clare the perfume to be as sweet as
some choice flower. The custom is
confined to Burmah and is not likely
to spread
In America poiteness goes. as it
should, before all else. One rule can
be laid down for general observance
where persons ideas of the proper
thing to do are unsettled: let him make
himself at home. He should do so III a
manner to create some respect for
home, unlike a young man who called
al the office of a noted Philadelphia.
somewhat famous for his straightfor-
ward utterances.
Make yourself a. home for few
minutes" said the owner of the Office
10 his visitor.
The young man, having seated HIM
sell somewhat comfortably, but mis-
taking Il table for footstool, respond
ed cheerfully:
Il always make myself at home"
Then pity the people at home"
was the quick response.