The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-09-29
UNMANNERLY YOUNG MEN.

Those Of the Present Day Need . sharI
Lesson In Civility.
It is obviously absurd to discuss what
does not exist, and, therefore, those whe
have anything to say % the subject o.
mems manners had better say it Of
once; for, if matters progress at theiI
present rate, men will soon have no man
ners at all. Every century has its
diatribists-if the uncouth word may
be allowed-and ours is no exception te
the rule. Mrs. Lynn Linton, Ladye
Jeune, Ouida, Lady Cook and othels
have at all times expressed themse3ve,
against the evils and the follies Of so
ciety, but society does not seem to inn.
prove, and Lord Meath's latest nine
tenth century utterance is not a bit
too strong. Manners are dying out. es-
pecially among men, and it really seems
as II gentlemen would soon be thing
Of the past. 1t is high time that the
young men OF London were brought Ia
their bearings and it is only the women
who can teach them the lesson that they
need. This season is nearly over. Lit
tie or nothing can be done during its
remaining weeks. But 1 ask hostesses
to resolve to make stand against the
prevailing bearishness and boorisk-
ness before next summer comes around
It is almost incredible the lengths to
which the young male of the presen'
day will 60 in bad manners.
In the first place. he has practically
ceased TO answer invitations So gen.
eral has this practice become that hos
tesses always reckon upon it when Civ.
ing a ball. A very well-known woman
of the world recently sent out cards fol-
a dance. She asked so women and 6Oc
men. About 80 Of the 800 had the de.
cency to let her know whether they In.
tended to accept her hospitality or not,
OF the remaining $40 some came and
some stayed away. Yet the legend B. S,
V. p. was in the corner of every card
A great many men, who wrongly i'm.
agine themselves to be gentlemen, when
they receive card for ball, don't reply
to it, but when the night of it arrives
they go to the house q little after II, de.
post their coats and hats and make
straight for the supper-room. There
they squat down, eat and drink until
they are satisfied, and, having done 50,
depart without paying even a moment
airy visit to the ballroom or having the
decency to greet their host or hostess.
In fact, they use private house merely
Rs an eating house and go to it only for
the practical purpose of gorging.
To many this statement will seem
well-nigh incredible. It is perfectly
true, nevertheless. and dozens of host.
esses could bear witness to it. When
men do eondescend to shake hands with
their entertainers and ''show" in the
ballroom they very often refuse to
dance, and absolutely decline to be in,
troduced to any girls who want part
ners. They are, therefore, only in the
way. and deserve to be carted inconti-
nently into the street without further
parley. Their fatuous faces stay enjoy
nent in others. They squeeze round
the doors, nsslang entrance and egress
almost impossible, and their long
limbed Iassitude is standing insult 10
the girls who come to the ball TO dance
and not to make themselves ridiculous
by vanity and offensive by Ill breeding.
1 wonder that hostesses have tolerated
the airs and graces of these deplorabie
degenerates so long. Everyone COM
plains Of them, but everybody seems
afraid of them. Why? A sharp lesson
would do them all the good in the world.
Seine women in authority, some leader
OF society, should decline to admit to
her house those who have not replied &c
her invitations and express herself
frankly to the men who come and re-
fuse, with contempt, to either dance OF
depart. A few bold words would clear
the air and bring these impertinent AMI
badly behaved vulgsrians to a more
reasonable and more desirable frame OF