The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-04
CARRIE CARELESS
This Time Writes Letter for Men
to Read.
(Tnn,o-iobt

TO Read.
(Copprioht)
NEw YORK. Sept Sin one of the latest
issues Of the London weekly newspaper en-
titled Woman / read that it sis no longer
fashionable for women to kiss one another"
That women who kiss one another before a
drawing room full OF men and women are
guilty Of bad form is nothing new. For
even the e-cent pamphlet published year
ago on the knotty problem, how TO behave,
asserts that public caresses are vulgar and
disrespeotful even when bestowed on a pet
dog. But now even the .interfemInlne kiss
In the sanctity of the boudoir is forbidden.
We are to consider ourselves restricted to a
more or less aerial shake Of the hand. This,
of course, will save much straIning Of the
collar and corset, and in some cases the pos
sible obliteration Of artificial beauty from
the lip and cheek.
Another advantage of the new edict lies
in the fact that It simplifies the art Of salu-
tetion. The latter is far more complex
and difficult question than appears at first
sight, and is well worthy of more serious
attention than is generally accorded thereto.
How many women are there for instance,
no 10 uOb 1901 6LilUhEIdsob0 Wubu bu6y
celve from their tradesmen, servants, or
social interiors Of any kind, arrayed in Sun
day clothes, the same conventional recogni-
ton that they receive from their social
equalsl Some ladies pass straight on, affect
ing 80 ignore the bow, others, again, return
it in a constrained manner, while only a
few acknowledge the greeting in perfectly
natural and Cactful manner, in which con-
descepsion is leevened by geniality and
kindliness.
Men ARE even more embarrassed than
women with regard tosthe method Of 40.
knowledging the salute of interiors, and
there are any number of them who are in
q quandary as to the correct thing TO do
when they happen to accidentally meet
their wives in the street.
An Englishman, writing 20 one Of the
London newspapers the other day, ex-
pressed his Perplexity on she subject of ao-
knowledgiug the salutations of iufe-
riors in the street, and concludes his
letter with the remark that a bow
that is, the raising Of the hat-"would be
clearly inappropriate" And this has led
number of British papers to suggest the
invention of some new form of salutation
suitable for use by superiors toward in
feriors
This TO nay mind, is preposterous and
altogether unnecessary. In the countries
where western civilization prevails, and
where both our religious and our political
breeds teach US that we are all equal in the
sight OF the divinity as well as in the eyes of
the law, the bow is al that is needed and
Is perfectly adequate TO meet all re-
qulrenents Every honest girl, be she
duchess or oharabernaid, the wife of a mil
lionaire or the daughter of a strest sweeper,
is entitled TO bow, that is, the barring OF
the head, from a man. Aud IN the same
way every hoaest man, whether prince or
peasant, clubman or pedelar, is entitled to
receive from US bow Or inclination Of the
head in acknowledgment Of his greeting.
Such courtesy as this Involves no loss of
dignity or OF social prestige whatsoever, and
renders the relations Of our daily life more
agreeable and more unoonstrained. Only
in this way is it possible to obtain
workable aud what is more,
comfortable arrangement in re-
gard to salutations. In countries where
there are well-defnsd classes, such 80 in
Japan, China, India and other Asatlc
sta los. and where the members of the class
below the highest are not ashamed OF be-
longing to the inferior ranks, 1t may be
possible to keep up graduated system OF
salutations. But in western countries, and
especially in the United States, where all
are supposed to be equal, and where, at the
utmost, the various social graduations must
be regarded as rather on o gentle slope than
in sharply accumulated steps, it is impo3-
sible to keep up class distinctions in saluta-
ton. The hat for ali women, the fnclina-
ton of the head for all men is the only
possible salutation.
There is only one exception to tho above
rule, only one case where the man is ex-
empt from the obligation Of raising bis hat
&c a woman; it Is when he ia in the company
Of an honest woman and he has the mis-
fortune to encounter a feminine acquaint.
ance to whom that qualification can
not be applied. Particularly If the
frail morality Of the acuuaint-
ance In question is matter of
public notoriety the slightest recognition
accorded to her by the man becomes a
Rrevious insult TO the honest and respectable
woman in whose society he may happen TO
be at the time. In France this is SO thor
oughly understood and appreciated that the
oourtly Gaul, who salutes even his laundress
with a sweeping coup de chapedu or wave
OF the hat. carefully abstains from accord
ing the faintest token Of recognition to any
member of the demi-monde If any respect
able woman OF his acquaintance is In sight.
Except in sucn cases as these, the ordinary
and customary form of salutation should
never be withheld. 1t cannot detraot from
our social prestige to accord a kind and
friendly greeting to people who do not co.
Joy our advantages Of rank and wealth in
life. To ignore them is opposed 30 every
principle and doctrine OF our political and
religious creed, and will tend moreover to
promote that sentiment of antagonism be-
tween the Glasses and the masses which con-
stitute 30 great a source OF weakness in
every western nation. CARRIE CARELESS.