The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-06
MANNERS

There is an old story. probably true. Of IN
English dame school,. that upon the little
sign where the terms were stated there
was the important appendix:
Them as larns manners. two-pence
more"
The plan was excellent. and the proven
bal good manners of EngHshmen show w
Of how much avail It has been
There is another story OF a midshipman
in the English navy. who was shut up for
a day IN his cabin with Instructions to
prepare an official report as to the manner
and customs of the Tooratoola islands, or
some similar group. After twelve hours
his comrades broke in on his retirement to
find that he had only written thus far:
"As for manners they have none. al
their customs are filthy"
1t seems worth while to recur to these
old stories-old enough to be in Joe Millers
jest book-in inquiring where training In
manners comes in America Whose bust
ness is IT to see about the good hampers OF
our young people? There was once a time.
as the present generation may be surprised
to hear, when the good manners OF our
people attracted the notice and respect OF
strangers.
Things have changed now. Take the ter
rible test of the open street car. In ninety
nine cases out of a hundred the woman who
sits at the end of the seat refuses TO move
in to make room for a new passenger. He
must tread on her feet, her bird cage, her
hat box and. her paper of sausages when he
enters, and must do so again when he
leaves. If you questioned her about hold
ing the fort thus she would say with an
aggrieved air, on a high key OF voice. that
she had a better right 90 the seat than he
and tina she was not going to give up her
rights for anyone. much less for a man.
and that she did not care what happened
TO him..
Now this remark may be wise or not.
but neither the remark nor the resistance
indicates good manners A gentleman,
since the time Of the New Testament. has
been a man who yields something of his
rights" The same definition applies TO .
lady. And the mere fact that the car
woman asserts her right shows that she
has not been trained to good manners.
Probably she has not been trained to any
Now, no man, as q man, need be con-
ceited when he reads this. Not long since
a young lady from Paris entered q Boston
car. to find sta~nding-room only. All right
she stood. Soon a man and woman left
She sat down, as it happened, in the mans
seat. Car starts. Man returns. having left
only to escort his partner to the pavement.
Madam" to the French lady, that 10
my seat" He takes 1t and sits down. {.
Now they say that the people OF Paris
are very rude, and ! think they are. But
this could not have happened there.
/ see, right and left, I'm those newspapers,
almost the majority. which are under Eng
lish direction. the statement that nobody
in England now says "Sir" In speaking TO
anybody. At the same time ! observe that
such Americans are ridiculed as stili use
this old-kashioned phrase IN addressing an
older person, or a superior in position
We are now taught. for instance. that an
American boy is fresh or green IL he says
Sir 70 his teacher.
Well, as to this. "Sir' was good man
ners in New Testament times. when a boy
spoke to his father, or a patient TO his
physician confess that IL we are TO test
TIE manners OF the two nations by such q
standard as this. / wish IL might prove
that the American boy generally "abates
something from his right SO far as TO
show that he knows he has superiors. But
/ am not myself troubled by observing too
many people. who, even in form. are too
respectful.
/ met the other day In Boston a boy
with e heavy parcel which had been mis-
directed. He had been told TO 60 into the
first alleyway ION the left from Winter
street, instead OF the first ION the right"
The address was to a well-known firm.
but he was fresh and did not know T.
So / took him back. started him on his
way, and he found the place. But IL never
occurred to him that he was TO thank me-
He never expressed any sort Of thanks
His place was TO so TO that place. ana
he went there. He would as soon have
gone to thank the sign-painter as me- <
When i buy a paper on a railway train.
L always read II carefully. and. when the
newsboy passes me again, l give IL back
TO him saying Some one else may IKE
this" In twenty instances. when l have
done this. this summer. one toy only has
recognized the fact that l did Il In the
other nineteen cases. the boy has accepted
the paper without a smile. a nod, a wink.
or a word.
A few days g ! took my seat in the
street car with a bag OF peaches. ! ate one
myself. and asked the boy next TO me 10
eat one. This be did-sladiy. I think But
sronvrirhf bv Edvnrd y Halo