Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1890-07-18
The Small couRTesles.
ry Observing Them tho rrIctIon Of LIZ
touid lie Vastly Aiftignted.

ry Obsrrviu. Them tho rrlction of Life
Could lie Vastly MitiIntcd.
Tho friction OF life. which wears upon
health, nerves and temper, could bc
vastly mitlgated by the cultivation o.
common. everyday politeness. Tho
truth Is thataverasc poiitencssis SUPER
fetal IT expands itself in formalities;
In wat Is called tho payment OF social
debts: in the prompt return OF calls and
the eoxact rendition OF social obligations.
hut the ordinary courtesy which ought
to be everyday custom, or rather, u
part Of the nature, Is wocfully neglect
ed. D'sreparl OF propricty begins with
the children. One can recall In their
acquaintance Tow Families in which def
orcnce to ago, respect for parental au.
thorlty, for tho wisdom and experience
OF their elders, have boon inculcated
with regard for truth, honesty and puri.
ty OF thought and speech.
1t is not required of child that he
shall say 'gool morning" when he en-
ters the room at breakfast or good
night" when he leaves 1t for his bed. 1t
never occurs to him to rise and offer his
chair to his parents. or discommodc
himself in any way for the convenience
and comfort OF others. because he haI
never becn taught to do so.
With all the progress that has been
made in art and science, and In oduca-
tion, so far as It pertains to the mind
and body, tho bad breeding OF the or
dinary human being appears only tho
more glaring. Street cars and steam
cars are fllcd with men who spit inccs-
sanity. dcliling the floor and frequently
tho 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 tho platform.
People with no understanding or ap.
probation frequent tho theater and
opera; they do not care TO hear them.
selves; they arc there to be seen, or 10
say that they wont. and they ruin the
enjoyment OF every body around them.
This yulgarity is not confined TO the
poor and the ignorant. II Is probably
more common among those who, II they
have not the right natural instinct,
have lad tho opportunity to SEQ and
learn.
Persons who consider themselves suf-
ieiontly courteous neglect the small
matters, although in the greater they
may be fastidiously exacting. They
ignore the questions in lettors; they
neglect to return the book or whatever
clso may have been borrowed; or, II 1t
has been unavoidable delay fail TO mako
tho explanation and apology that are
duo, They fail to acknowledge by word
or ietiof the favor they did not hesitate
10 acccpt and worse than all. discrim-
inato between tho poor, the friondless,
and the rich and those who are greatly
sought
Tho neutrality-suspicious. act Is like
tho quality OF mercy; tits twice blessed.
II gives pleasure to the recipient II he
be 81 an appreciatiyc nature, ana ~ Is
beneht to the door ~ may De se'hsi'
view to take oil the question nut wom-
an can nor AFFORD, Tor her dignity SAKE
10 be insolcns overbearing ana con-
teinptuous in her treatment oil those who
are, perhaps erronoously classified as
a H. I..I 81 oh L.Iaaa