The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-12-06
WOMAN and HOME.

II people would only realize how very,
very easy il is to teach children good
manners when they are little it seems
10 me they never would neglect to at
tend to it. The youngster is allowed TO
20 his own way, to violate every rule of
courtesy, sometimes of decency. until his
habits are To an extent formed. Then
there is a great breaking up of estab-
Ifshed notions. and the child is punished
and nagged and worried for doing that
which it has heretofore been permitted
TO do without criticism. 1t becomes an
gered, sullen, unsettled and irritable,
and il it has a strong sense of Justice
which, by the way, is more common in
children than people, as a rule give them
credit fort feels outraged and abused
and becomes unmanageable and rebel
Hous.
The best school of manners for a child
is the parents example and home train
ing
Company manners are by all odds the
worst element that ever entered into
family. Just why people should indulge
themselves in all sorts of careless, in
different and ill-bred habits when they
are alone at home and put on veneer
Of courtesy, amiability and polish when
somebody comes is one of the many
mysteries of this very mysterious thing
which we call life. How much easier it
would be to maintain the steady, uni
form department, 10 follow out the same
theories and hold to the same principles
Sunday and week days. storm and
al in rx-f ar a
makeshift They may have their uses,
but are far 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 life. One is
temporary and wears out with a 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 APP
proved society into which it is born.
That which is known as Sunday man
ners or good behavior should be the in
flexible rule of the household.
one of the prettiest sights in the
world was witnessed in a public place
the other day when a boy of nine years
stepped out in advance of his mother
and older sister, opened the door, held
II with one hand, cOurteQusly raised
his cap with the other and waited for
them TO pass through 1t put the blush
on more than one mature cheek and
caused many "a mother with growing
children &c wonder why il was that
her boys never did anything of that
sort The simple reason was that in
that household courtesy was enforced
from the cradlt. The boy had never
been permitted to suppose that he could
pass through a door and allow it TO
swing back into the face of his seniors.
At the age of nine years he could offer
his mother his arm. escort her to the
table, place her chair for her, pick up
her fan, handkerchief or gloves and
perform any of the little polite acts
OF everyday existence with the dignity
and grace OF Il courtieT. To say that
he was admired by every one would
not be in the least an exaggeration. In
what striking contrast was his conduct
with the Indifferent, lounging careless
ness Of most of the boys with whom he
was associated, But TO attain this de-
gree of ease and polish it is scarcely
necessary 10 say that the strictest
rules of good breeding were constantly
observed in that family.
1t may be said that such things take
too much time and trouble. and that
ones home is a place for relaxation and
Indulgence in ones personal peculiari-
ties. While this may be so. the question
would Immediately arise just what
habits and practices should be allowed,
and whether, under any circumstances,
bad manners. loafing and extreme care
lessness are to be tolerated. When once
one is trained TO good form, some of
the most Objectionable features OF ev-
eryday indulgence become as distaste-
full as they were afOretime thought COM
Portable and almost necessary. All of
which goes TO prove the truth of the
old quotation, How use doth work a
habit in a MANN. Y. Ledger.