St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-04-24

We hear great deal about conduct
becoming to ladies and gentlemen in
their association with each other.
Certain rules are laid down for our
guidance under all circumstances, but
few writer's theOrize of the importance
of unvarying courtesy to children from
"grown-ups." Annie Hamilton DOnnell
has this to say on this subject in the
American AgriculturiSt:
Unconsciously, perhaps. we take
bit OF honest pride unto ourselves in
practicing with exact nicely all the
little and big cOurtesieS that go to make
up refined living. Il is natural and
pleasant to us and not at all a duty.
Itmay be we even deny ourselves the
brusQueneSs ana "camradric" admisS-
bic between ourselves and our
intimate friends. because they
are Incompatible with our ideal
of true refinement. Such a thing
as rudeneSS to any living soul sends
well-bred shudders up and down our
proper spinal cOlumnS-and, though
We are willing TO confess our
selves mortal, we are far from
willing 10 admit that We ever wit
tinglY forget our 'mannerSW If any
bold individual, then. were to intimate
that we were not always courteous to
our little men and women in the home
nurSeTy-what then? Not polite TO our
own children-Our babiesi Well, may
be it would take all our Christian
strength to be polite to that "bold indi-
vidual" after that Suppose we do not
call it lack of courtesy TO the wee ones
we Will give it gentler name than
that. and 50 ''let ourselves down" more
easily.
| believe it is true we too often use up
our courteous words and manners
among our grOWn-up friendS-thOse
older than we and altogether deserving
OF all ciyilIty and respect and those with
whom we mingle more intimately. we
seem 10 have 50 much use for our polite
stores abroad. and, really, so little need
OF them at home in The rush and bust
ness of humdrum life. 1t takes so
much more time TO say, please. Johnnie,
bring the scissors to mamma" than it
does TO say "JOhnmiel bring me the
scissors" Besides, they are ours-the
babies, God bless them. They belong
To uS-We nave a perfect right to say to
Emily, Go" and she goeth, and TO
Jane, Come" and she cOmeth. And
we get So used to sending the little
trudgers hither and thithpr and yOn for
lis, all day long, with scarcely ever
word of thanks or a gentle IF you
please, dear"
II We were to begin this way. and
when the scissors are needed. were to
say, "Want TO DO all errand for mamma,
little lady? Will you please run for
mammals scissors" and when the sciS-
sOrs were brought, if we were to say,
THANK you. dear, OF "TOu are very
kind to mamma''-well. | think we
should see our reward for the bit of
unusual courtesy in the little lady's own
blue eyes. How pleased and grown
uD''she would feel.
Let the wee errand-gOerS feel that
they are comforting little favor on
mamma, not doing something because
they've ''gOt to-" Let it be delight to
them to feel that they are helping and
you will see how willing the little feet
are to run, and how glad the little faces
look. ! know about it, you see, for
there is little face that laughs up into
my face dozen times day-''helping
mamma" When her bit ladyship was
very small it was one of her great joys
and privileges to hep kce up'' after
DdUN = Udlii. dllu tjIC sud- anu lilC pON-
der were carried safely and proudly to
their places-and then would come
the coveted ''thank you' or, may
be, the mammals little helpen" that
would fill the little cup of JOY Drumming
full.
Why should we not say ''please" and
"thank you' to the children? Their
tiny rights and prerogativeS are just as
important as our big ones. Indeed, there
IS more need OF remembering them, for
the little folks cannot stand up for their
rights as we can, and there is the need
OF our doing it for them. We are con-
stanIly hearing mothers and fathers
bordering" their children about. Shame
full! we think. and then why do we not
fail to wondering if we may not be doing
the same thing in our own peculiar
fashion and IN greater or less degree?
We never dream we are ordering about
the little men and wOmen-but are we
not after all? Anyway, it can do us no
harm to take heed unto our way-put Oh
our glasses awhile and look closely into
all the corners and crevices.