New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-20

nan, thoroughly disconnected for the moment
and not comprehending the drift OF her remark
on, 1t was because you seemed to be so afraid
or nrting your hat too far from your head that
thought you must really have something OF
the kind concealed there which you feared
might escape. she replied, with the utmost
sweetness and suavity.
DECLINE OF AMERICAN CHIvALRY.
This decay in the art of bowling constitutes
merely one of the many phases Of that decline
In the chivary and courtliness in the manner
Of men toward women which is noticeable to the
stranger in the United States Twenty and thirty
years ago the American enjoyed throughout Eu-
rope a we-deserved reputation. and even cele-
britN for the couriliness ana chivalry of his
manners toward women. To-day he is no longer
entitled thereto, and his behavior in this respect
is rapidly becoming as b)Orish and rude
that of his English cousin. whom he cndeaVors
To initiate with such pathetic Difference and
hdeity. How few Of the men are there nova
days who will go TO the trouble of ungloVng
their right hand before accepting that which
lady condescends 10 extend 10 them when they
meet her in the street, 1t is but rarely that one
iindS in these present times any one. save per
hnps some elderly gentleman. who is courtly
enough To throw away his cigar if woman
stops on any public thoroughfare to engage him
in conversation, or even To address 10 him but
I, few words Indeed one can actually see we'll
dressed men smoking cigarettes and even cigars
when walking in the company of women, who
are. in measure. 10 be blamed for permitting
such q lack of Difference.
1t is useless to harp upon the much discussed
question of men Surrendering their seats TO
ladies in public cOnVeyances. But | would say
this much. that when | was in this country
twenty years ago ever dreamt of dis
CuSSing such q subject. since II was unques-
toned that no American gentleman would re-
main seated in a public conveyance while any
woman. rich or poor white or colored, renamed
standing. In those days too. It used to he con-
sdered good form for men to raise their hats
slightly. even To the shop girls who attended TO
their wants in the stores. on entering, ana more
specially leaving. 1t was in Keeping with
the practice which formerly prevailed at farlS'
when men used To bare their heads on entering
any store. and resume their hats only on taxing
their departure. or course. that. nowadays. ana
here in America. would he justly regarded as an
eXaggcratiOn Verging on the ridiculous, ana eN-
aggerations of this kind are almost as much
subject to criticism the lack Of courtesy since
they tend to embarrass the person to whom the
compliment is addressed.
Men in this country fond Of ascrihing to
the development in recent years Of the unfemi-
nine department of the fair sex their diminished
Difference and courtliness toward women Thcy
declare that the responsibility for their rudeness
rests with the up-tOdatc masculine female. But
would she ever have sprung into existence
had il not been for mans lack of court
esy? Is not the assumption 10y woman OF
mans bearing. of mans attire, and or
mans mannerisns due to feeling on her part
that it is only by placing herself on an
equality with him that she can hope To hold her
own? That such is the is shown by III"
fact that in the one country where the greatest
courtcsv and Difference are voluntarily accorded
TO women the masculine female is unknown.
There are no boomers in Austria.
EX-ATTACHE.