Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-06-29
OLD TIME COURTESY.
A Pleasant THANK You" Is Easily spoken
by the We'll Bred.

A Pleasant "Thank You" Is Easily spoken
by the Well Bred.
In this rushing. bustling, hurrying
nineteenth century some of the good
old-fashioned virtues of our ancestors
are becoming sadly too rare, courtesy
among others Courtesy is as natural
to some women as the air they breathe,
while others spend whole lifetime
without even recognizing II when they
see IL in others. 1t is sometimes defined
as 'politeness," but in truth Il is far
more than this.
politeness Is, in many cases. the out
come of courtesy; but woman may be
polite without being courteous, al
though courteous woman in invaria-
bly, polite. A charwoman may
well set an example of courtesy
10 some of the highest ladies
in the land, for IL consists
of that innate goodness of heart which
none can assume and cast aside at will
as garment, but which must be pres
emit in ones nature before 1t can be
shown In word or action.
The polite girl is polite when IL suits
her TO he so the courteous girl shows
courtesy to rich and poor, high and low
alike, at all times and under all circum-
stances. An old fashioned engraving
represents a hive, on which are bees
worth hiving," and among this "Be
courteous" is one OF the most impor-
tant, and yet few people-and especial
| ly few women-understan what IL inn
plies. The very derivation of the
word gives its meaning, IL one could
only grasp Il - occur" the heart.
Courtesy springs from the heart,
and IL this fact were more fully
realized, this queen OF virtue would
less often be COMPOUNDED with super
fetal polish-merely spurious Inn
itation-that is found among women
when they are in company, but so rare
| ly follows them into their own houses.
| The young lady whose light Excuse
me-" or Pardon" with vile French
accent, is ever ready on the tip of her
tongue before she has committed any
breach of etiquette that requires for
| giveness, is not necessarily more courtc-
Gus than the clumsy ldtchenmaid who
springs forward involuntarily to carry
heavy burden for the tircd-looking
housemaid. or the tramp who helps a
crippled sister over a busy crossing.
There are two classes of workers to
whom ladies are especially apt to show
discourtesy-shop assistants and domcs-
tic servants. Is IL courteous To order u
girl about as II she were a dog; never
to say please in asking for thing to
be done. or thank you when IL has
been done; to let her spread for your
benefit heaps Of goods, all Of which you
regard slightingly. and shcn To walk
off with disdainful look, rcmarlSing
that they won't do, without u word Of
thanks for the trouble she had taken?
And is IL courteous to assume II specially
hard and dictatorial tone in speaking ON
any subject TO your servant, simply he
cause circumstances have placed her at
disadvantage? Surely not, and IL
courtesy were commoner between SUI
Ieriors and interiors. as we'll as between
ladies of equal rank, there would he
many crooked places made smooth and
rough places made plain; many paths
now strewn with thorns would have
their share OF n ocs, in short. the sum
of happiness in the world would be i'm.
measurably increased. - Brooklyn
Chronicle