Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-14
HOME MANNERS.
Their Eject Upon the Training Of
Children.


Children.
From the New York Ledger.
II people would only realize how very easy
IT is to teach children good manners when
they were little. it seems to me they never
would neglect to attend to It, The young
ster is allowed to go his own way, to violate
every rule of courtesy, sometimes of de-
cency, until his habits are to an extent
formed. Then there is a great breaking up
Of established notions, and the child is pun
ished and nagged and worried for doing
that which 1t has heretofore been permitted
to do without criticism. 1t becomes anger
ed, sullen, unsettled and irritable. and If it
has a strong sense of justice-which. by the
way, Is more common in children than peo-
pie, as a rule, give them credit fort feels
outraged and abused, and becomes unman-
ageable and rebellious. The best school of
manners for child is the parents example
and home training.
Company manners are. by all odds, the
worst element that ever entered into a
family. Just why people should indulge
themselves IN all sorts of careless, indiffer-
ent and ill-pred habits when they are alone
at home, and put on a veneer Of courtesy,
amiability and polish when somebody
comes, is one of the many mysteries of this
very mysterious thing that We call life.
How much easier it would be to maintain
the steady uniform department, to follow
out the same theories and hold to the same
principles Sunday and week days. storm and
shine. alone or in society. Veneers are a
makeshift- They may have their uses, but
are for less desirable than the solid material
all through. One lasts for little while, the
other weathers the storms of time, hard
usage and the wear and tear of everyday
nfe one ls temporary and wears out with
little contact with the world; the other
grows better with every passing year. The
earliest training OF a child should be in
strict conformation with the most approved
society into which IL is born. That which
is known as Sunday manners or good be-
havior should be the infexible rule Of the
household.
One of the prettiest sights in the world
was witnessed in a public place the other
day. when boy of nine years stepped out
In advance of his mother and older sister,
opened the door, held it with one hand,
courteously raised his cap with the other
and waited for them to pass through It
put the blush on more than one mature
cheek. and caused many a mother with
growing children to wonder why 1t was that
her boys never did anything Of that sort
Inc simple reason was that in that house.
hold courtesy was enforced from the cradle
The boy never had been permitted to sup
pose that he could pass through a door and
allow II to swing back into the face of his
seniors. At the age of nine years he could
ohei MS HiotnSr MS am, escort her to the
table. place her chair for her. pick up her
ran. handkerchief or gloves and perform
any CT the little polite acts of every day ey-
istence with the dignity and grace of a
courtier. To say that he was admired by
every one would not be in the least an ex-
aggeratioi.. In what striking contrast was
his conduct with the Indifferent loungins
carelessness of most Of the boys with whom
he was associated. But to attain the degree
OF ease and polish, it is scarcely necessary
TO say that the strictest rules of good breed
ing were constantly observed in that family
IL may be said that such things take too
much time and trouble. and that ones home
ID place OF relaxation and Indulgence in
ones personal peculiarities While this may
De so the question would Immediately arise
just what habits and practices should be
allowed. and whether under any circum-
stances. bad manners. loaiing and extreme
careleSSnesS are to be tolerated. When once
one Is trained to good form, some of the
most objectionable features of every day in
dulgence become as distasteful as they wee
aIoretlme thought comfortable and most
necessary. All of which goes to prove the
truth of the old quotation, How use doth
work habit in a man"