Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-06-18
PolIteness in the Home Circle.

True polIteness Is founded on con-
slderation for others. vet II Is so much
a matter of form or habit, that polite
ness Is sometimes shown where there is
no consideration; il is sometimes ne
elected where there is affection and
every reason for kind consideration
Thus, In the intercourse of near rela-
tIyes made familiar with each other by
daily meetings there Is naturally less
formallty than between people who are
only thrown together by chance for a
I few hours or days at long intervals.
But along with the laying aside of for
mality, some necessary features of po-
Lteness are sometimes sacrificed by
relatives and very close friends. The
youth who is careful to salute his lady
friends and acquaintances according to
the usages of good society sometimes
forgets TO pay the same respect to his
sister, not becauss he is wanting IN af-
fectionate regard, but because he has
grown so familiar with her that it seems
awkward to him to treat her in any
formal way. Yet when he meets her in
company he should, out of his consid-
Grafton for her, be markedly polite and
attentive Although polIIeness nee
essarlly follows TO n great extent set
forms, 1t should have Its origin in affec-
ton for the individual, or, in a general
way consideration for others. When
the young man begins to behave at
home with less politeness than he ex-
hlbIts abroad, there is much danger
that gradual: :: he will lose that consid-
Grafton for his immediate relatives
which he should have and exhibit. He
may begin by entering the family room
without formal greeting; absorbed in
his own thoughts or pursuits, he will
soon begin to leave his sister and his
mother to look for themselves in the
smaller affairs of life, and gradually but
surely he VIII cultivate a selfish DISPOSE
ton In home affairs that will make him
bad or Indifferent son or brother.
1t Is a small matter in itself whether a
young man finds chair for his sister
or mother when they would be seated,
anticipates their desire for n glass of
water, cheerfully helps them to their
wraps, and offers them the thousand
little attentions without which and in
his absence, they could get along very
well by their own exertions, but it Is
not a small matter when neglect of
such attentions lessons his considera-
ton for them, develops his selfishness.
and gradually undermines the affection
that should mite the family. Polite
ness in society between acquaintances
or friends is demanded bv custom.
There is no need to Iemind readers
that 1t should be exhibited. Polite
ness at home and between near relatives
even between husband and wife, though
of much more Importance in every way
Is not so obviously necessary, and IS
too often neglected Gentlemen of
what are known as the "old school,
were and are scrupulous in the observ-
ance of the forms of polite society to-
ward their wives and other female re-
latlves, and in the home circle, but the
latter generation seems disposed to
treat relatives with less formality and
respect than is habItually shown to
strangers and acquaintance. The ten
dency should be resisted, however,
and every encouragement given in the
home circle to an observance of the
rules of polite society, modified only
by a spontaneous exhibition of that
greater affection which exists between
the members of family group.-BaL-
tiHore Sun.