Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1894-11-02
TO HIT OR NOT TO HIT
Should Gentleman Knock Down a Ruf1lan
For Insulting a Lady?

Should "a Gentleman Knock Down a Rufltah
For Insulting Lady?
Our advice upon an eXasperating but
easily determined question of street ETH
quette is here requested
What would You consider the wisest course
to pursue in the following case:
If a ruffian makes offensive remarks about a
lady, either on the street or in a public convey
ance what should the gentleman do who is
escorting her at the timer Such an incident
happened only last week and was published in
The sun.
This question came up in our club, and every
member has q different opinion on the subject,
some advocating violence and others believing
Indifference to bcbest under the circumstances
If our friend will apply to this incident
the treatment which would have followed
it in the days of historic chivalry, he will
perhaps be reader to accept the method
prescribed by the circumstances of civiliza-
tfon. In DAYS Of old, when knights were
bold, if an INSULT had been aimed at the
lady with whom one of them was keeping
company, the moment after the rude mans
words had left his mouth a sword would
have been found sticking out from behind
his back.
Such was the penalty inflicted for such
an outrage in those days In the face of
this heroic practice how puny, how hope
| lessly impotent and insufficient, would seem
a simple smash upon the smeller, delivered
from manly arm however good! 1t is
this phase of social progress that has helped
to strengthen the feeling of aversion with
which modern manners are inclined to put
away brawliug and roughness from sight,
and especially from the eyes of women
Even in very recent times, when duels were
in good standing, if q man should insult a
woman in another's presence he would be
more liable to be called upon to appear at
some distant place and fight for his life
than to have to take Il licking on the spot.
So of the case cited above. A fight is
something which lady should not be
forced to witness. 1t il better that she
should neither see it nor be concerned with
it. Any but an extreme insult by a street
/ ruffian is beneath the notice of a lady and
gentleman. 1t need not be understood to
apply to them. They are under no obliga-
ton to hear it, any more than if it were ad-
dressed to some other party. They are be
yond the reach of its evil breath, and so
well established is the popular feeling that
women walk enCrcled with a safeguard
against this sort Of brutality, that, delicate
as it is in nature, it is well nigh insur-
mountable And it not only protects also
a woman's escort, but it COnstrains him
equally to remain within its lines by her
side.
Under any but most unusual Circum-
stances it is imperative for the gentleman,
out of respect for the lady, to curb his nat
ural manly impulse and to continue in
seeming ignorance Of offense. But this rule
of course is amcnable to judgment. 1t is
conceivable that a ruflian's vilencss of con-
duct may pass beyond the line of endur-
ance, and theu--to the whaling he should
get on the spot there is no limitation laid
down in the pages of etiquette or humani-
ty.-New York Sun.