The record-union., 1895-09-14
A MATTER OF MANNERS.

uthLLor Will our puOlIC hduucis' -
calls attention to scenes that may be wit
messed any day in the street cars. when
men who appear to be decent and well
trained show no regard for the conven-
ience of women. Yet but a short time
ago a man would as soon think of dis
gracing himself publicly as to refuse the
common oourtesies to women, children,
and old men in public conveyances.
There was no such scramble for seats
few years ago as is now witnessed. Only
a little while ago no man would think of
crowding a woman from her point Of
view on the public walk as PROFESSIONS
passed. In this city within the present
week hundreds of young men could have
been seen doing precisely that thing, and
crowding the cars and refusing to give
seats to women. The Mail asserts that
in its city wild rushss for seats are COM
mon, and women with infants in their
arms are jostled, crowded, put aside and
compelled to stand, while strong, vigor-
GUS youths sit or occupy the desirable
places. 1t admits that occasionally
young and pretty woman is favored and
a seat surrendered to her, but even these
cases are rare.
AS the Mdit puts it. such scenes of
want of gentiIity show humanity on its
grossest side and its most selfish aspects.
1t believes there is a decadence OF good
manners, and asks, "has the new woman
fad anything to do with the rapid dete-
rioration of the amenities hitherto OBJ
served between the sexes?"
We reply, emphatically. yes. 1t is the
common observation of men that good
manners in public from men towards
women have fallen off so that they are
exceptional in their manifestation. and
it is equally true that the new woman fad
has much to do with it. True, there is
cause for it to some extent in the failure
TO train our youth at home in the COM
mon courtesies of life. but in the main
the evil is the result of the assertive dis
position of woman in very recent years
in the matter of claiming her so-callsd
rights"
Men have come to say, and say it
openly, as any man of the world has
often heard declared. "sincs women are
demanding our places let them take our
discomforts also; since they insist upon
what they please to term equality, let
them have it in all fullness. We will not
extend courtesy where courtesy is de-
MED us in return"
\ large number of women have come
to think that as matter of right the
men must yield whenever and whatever
they demand, when In fact graciousness
to the sex has been with us a recognition
OF the weakness of women, and of our
duty to protect her and shelter her. If
she casts off our protection, let her look
TO herself" say the young men.
We are by no means commencing this
expression, but we assert that it is COM
mon among large class of men, more
the shame to them. For the gentleman,
no matter what his station in life, will
not cease to be one because some women
forget what Is becoming and polite in
them. Thank Heayen, not all women
are infected with the new fad There re-
main some who do not forget 10 bow and
smile when q man yields his privilege.
There are some women remaining still
who are not ashamed to confess that it la
unwomanly to scramble for place, to be
rude, boorish, mannish and ungallant,
under the false idea that they are thereby
asserting their independence.