The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-06-27
THE SMALL CoURTESlES.
BY Observing Them the Friction of Iif,
Could He Vastly Miticated


Could he Vastly Mitieated.
The friction of life, which wears upon
nealth, nerves and temper, could be
vastly mitigated by the cultivation of
common, everyday politeness. The
truth is thataverage politeness is super
nclaL 1t expands itself in formalities;
In what is called the payment of social
oeDts; In the prompt return of calls and
the exact rendition of social obligations.
But the ordinary courtesy which ought
70 De everyday custom, or, rather, a
part OF the nature, is woefully neglect
ed. 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-
Snorlty, for the wisdom and experience
Oh 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-
tiers the room at breakfast or good
night when he leaves it for his bed. It
never occurs to him to rise and offer his
chair to his parents, or discommode
himself in any way for the convenience
and comfort of others, because he has
never been taught to do so.
With all the progress that has been
made In art and science, and in educa-
ton, so far as it pertains to the mind
and body, the bad breeding of the Or
binary human being appears only the
more glazing. Street cars and steam
| cars are filled with men who spit inces-
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 ap-
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
more 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-
fciently 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 CT whatever
else may have been borrowed; or, if 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 if he
be of an appreciative nature, and it is
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-
temptuous in her treatment of those who
are, perhaps, enormously 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 republic-the more should
be required Of Ter in every way.
Indifference to the feelings of an
equal may be simple rudeness to one
who in some respects may be the in
ferior, but by no means in all, is not
only rudeness but it is cowardice as
we'll, for it is taking advantage of po-
sition which permits neither defense
nor retaliation. In all the modern
struggle for culture it is too much cul-
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 age no man, though he be as wise
as Solomon, has right to be a boor
No woman has 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.