Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-30

George c. Ball, Nineteenth street between Tenth and Eleventh avenues. South Hlgh- lands. Telephone 9SS.)
 An exchange which is edited with sin gular ability in a recent issue has an edi- torial which Is written in the most se- rious vein-with not the faintest sugges- tion of humor-upon the decadence of good manners in the young people Of this day as compared with those of genera tion ago. The editorial In question IS called Candid Confession" and quotes the following remarks of Mrs Julia Ward Howe in justification of the posi- tion held by the writer Mrs. Howe is thus quoted:
 'T do not think that the manners of so- called polite society today are quite so polite as they were in my youth. Young women of fashion seem to me to have lost in dignity of character and in general tone and culture Young men of fash ion seem to regard the young ladies with less esteem and deference and general cheap and easy standard of manners Is the result"
 This statement is considered as cor roborative of the opinion held by the writer of the said editorial. who says:
 "We~do not think any observant per son will deny the truth of what Mrs. Howe says That there Is less courtesy, less gentleness, less true politeness in so- ciety today than there was generation ago cannot be doubted. Men are less considerate of women wherever they meet It only requires trip on crowd ed railroad train, or even street car, to demonstrate the truth of this assertion.
 What is the reason for this?
 "Why has the average mans conduct towards woman changed?
 "Is 1t not because his ideal of woman hood has suffered change also?
 ''Is not the key to the solution of this problem. to be found in the toast which was proposed at banquet not long ago, Woman, Once Our Superior. Now Our Equal?'"
 needed of the fact that Mrs. Julia Ward Howe is now an elderly woman, and that the editor whom I have quoted is rapidly advancing in life. Every gener- ation is considered by those who were a part of it as superior in manners and breeding to the one which comes after. Every man and woman who can recall a grandparent can bear witness to the comparisons that are always instituted between the earlier and later generations, with always the younger generation suf- fering by the comparison. No higher praise can come from our elders than that our breeding. gentility and manners in a measure approximate those of their generation. This feeling of older to- wards younger people seems to be as natural as that our hair turns gray or our eyes grow dim. It is one of the in- fallible indications of age. and it is de- liciously funny to have one of the best editors in the south saying what his pa- rents and grandparents have said before him. and then with the innocence of child trying to find reason for the opinion. And. after considering the mat ter with great seriousness-after the manner of his grandparents-he puts part of the awful responsibility of the change upon the poor new woman" This new woman has had many charges laid at her door, many burdens pressed down on her shoulders, but she certainly is guiltless of this crime. notwithstand- ing Mrs. Howe and the editor. There is nothing new about the matter at all; 1t is all old. and old age at that.
 Miss Booten of Virginia is the guest of her uncle and aunt, MT and Mrs. George R. Ward on Fifth avenue.
 Mrs w L. Sims and Mrs. John H. Hine will spend mardi gras in New Or leans with Mrs. Caswell Ellis.
 The Literary clique of '95 was enter- tained on Tuesday afternoon by Miss Sue Allen Ball Longfellow and his works were discussed by the young ladies. Miss Mamie Johnston. Miss Anna May Phelan and Miss Sue Allen Ball read selections ments were served after the completion of the literary exercises. The clique will meet next with Miss Ada Bowron at the home of her parents, Mir. and Mrs. James Bowron. South Highlands.
 
 Miss Evelyn OrYne returns to Atlanta on Friday, to the regret of the large cir cle of friends she has made during her visit~to Birmingham.
 The New York World of Tuesday has this paragraph regarding a successful Alabama woman:
 Tn Troy. Ala. there is a woman who is more than ordinarily successful farm CT. She Is Mrs. Buck Hathaway. Her husband died leaving her in debt.
 'The first thing she did was to sell a