The Jersey City news., 1891-11-05
MANNERS OF PARENTS.
To Have Courteous Children They
Must Behave COurteously.

| III u0b DCu0NC NOuI IOOuGt1s
| We hear a good deal said about the
behavior of children in these days.
and these remarks are often the re-
verse of complimentary, says Eleanor
A. Hunter in the Cincinnati CONNER
cial Gazette, but no one as yet has
seemed to seriously consider the man
ners of grown people in relation to
children, though nowhere is the law
| OF cause and effect more clearly man
iiested. If parents are habituaily
courteous to their children the chill
dren have pleasant manners. Ii they
are rude, so are the children. They
reflect the manners of their elders as
a mirror does the objects by which it
is surrounded. Many parents, who
are we'll bred in their manners to their
equals never trouble themselves to be
considerate in their behavior to their
own children. Indeed, there are pa
rents who actually seem to think that
| it is not we'll to be courteous to a
child.
Say thank you,'" I heard moth
er command little daughter when
she had tied a sash for her.
You never say thank you TO me,
returned the child instantly.
ut is not my place to say than k
you to you. You are my child and it
is your duty to do whatever l order,
responded the mother.
The child quietly walked from the
room with firm-shnt lips and flashing
ewes, and the mother never noticed
har nd huH MT hnQn
obeyed.
How often do we command when
we should request.
pass the bread"
"Shut the door"
$50 upstairs and get me clean
dkerchief-quick."
The hateful sentences throng upon
my memory faster than my pen can
write them. How can we expect
children to have serene and gentle
manners when they are treated like
this?
Then, again. in some families chill
dren are ignored. Tney come down
to the breakfast room and take their
places at the table without any morn
ing greeting whatever. When school
time comes they are put in order by
their mother and dismissed with a
''There, YOU are ready at last. Go
along" No wonder such children act
shy and awkward when some stranger
chances to give them cheerful greet
ing. When company comes how many
children are told to keep out of the
way"- to keep still and not say any
thing" in the presence of the guests.
1t is not strange that the little things
act like scared kittens under such cir
cumstances. 1t is remarkable to Inc
that they appear as well as they do.
| once knew a lady whose son, a
little lad of ten. was the admiration
of every one for his beautiful man
ners. While he was perfectly simple,
frank and boyish, his manners were
as assured and correct as those of a
grown man. His mother could send
him in the carriage alone to the sta
tion to bring a lady guest from the
train, certain that he would give her
tvery needful attention. He would
cake the checks, care for the baggage,
and bring her to the house with every
courtesy. And always when visitors
were at home he did his little share
of entertaining. He was quick to
wait upon them and to show them
every respect, and, though he was
converse with them if they felt SO in
clined.
"How did you manage it7 What
course of training did you pursue2"
people used to inquire.
"Well, heard his mother answer,
laughipgly, at one time, ''for one thing
never snubbed him. He has no idea
that there are people in the world
who do not like boys. He supposes
that everybody is as friendly as he
himself. Then have always brought
him up to take care of Inc and be
polite to me; and | am as careful to
be considerate and as courteous to
him as | am to his father. So he
never has to put on his good manners;
they are the habit of his life. think
that is about all there is of it,"
That was all, but it was good
deal; and, if all parents would pursue
the same course they would have less
occasion to lament the children's rude
ness and awkwardness.