The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-14
FOR FEMININE READERS
FAMILY COURTESY ENTIRELY A
MATTER OF PARENTAL TRAINING.
Tiresome Women Who Delight I'm Re-
quette of Flower Giving.

1t seemed to a writer in the New York
Post that fathers cooperate less earnestly
than they might in demanding a more
chvalric treatment of the mother who
combines so many offices in one. III watch
ing with increasing admiration the life of
a neighboring family where courtesy
marked the most trivial act of one toward
another, she says, it gradually became APP
parent that the marked Difference shown
the lovely mother sprang from direct imita-
ton of her husbands unfailing tenderness
towards her.
There were jolly athletic boys in patri-
archal number in this household, and their
home looked down highway leading by a
steep grade from the top to the bottom of
a hill. Times without number have / seen
this merry clan just at the foot Of the hill
doff all their caps and make the most gall
liant salutation; they had just caught sight
of their mothers pleasant face on the out
look for their return. They met her eager
ly, receiving her kiss with uncovered heads
and standing aside that she might have
precedence in entering her own door. They
were boys to the hearts core, jubilant, rest
less, athletic, and merry but in four years
close neighborhood l never heard a word of
fraternal rudeness; 1 never saw a mean or
selfish advantage taken, nor did any in
stance occur when they were not as con-
siderate of each other and OF home as it
they were guests who tarried but a night
Something besides natural tendencies
brought about these results, and beyond the
ordinary training of an educated Christian
teacnng 1t seemed 10 me come from
the influence OF their fathers gentle cour-
teSy TO their mother.
. II courtesy OF manner has charm and most
uelghtIuI influences, courtesy of speech
sues yet Iurtner, ana, alas, ruQeneSS OF the
Tongue is remembered when the rougnness
OF reconsideration is forgotten. The Jeerlng
laughter over some unavoidable error; the
qulCh, uHSIaclouS contradiction, the implied
ignorance, winch is so common in the COM
mentS Oh the young upon their ELDERS IN
lnese Gays, remain like the poisoned heads
OF arrows ana cause fasting SORE Inc
sense or being too old-faSniOned to seem
distinguished, of being so ntIIe up to the
INNOVATIONS or the tine TO seem ridicu-
tous, OF approaching senlle demenIIa by au-
herence to theories ana manners of their
youth, are mental phases only too famlIiar
10 the head OF many an American house
hold to-day, where the 'chatI'' or grayer
criticism at her own dinner table have made
wounds IN mothers heart which will new
er entirely heal.
The alas against these sorrowfuI condi-
tons lie IN the parents hands. First there
should be rule as Stern as any Medlan law
under which rudeness ana contradiction
ana dlscourteSy should be regarded as
wrong IN the same sense as any other pun
ishaCle naughtiness FL chilnood and by
other lifting discipline as years go on-a
rule by which the etiquette of home life
should be as fixed ana as necessary az in
any other possible social relation. and It's
violations should bring results which can be
felt and remembered; not formula of stiff
restrictions alien to real feeling but by
the enforcement of the rights of others and
the adoption of that great law from which
good manners form their own details-the
law of Self-fOrgetfulneSS and endeaVOr to
make others happy. Bad manners and MAX
ing things unpleasant at home come from
pure selnshness, and it is cruel to let a
child grow up selfishy.
The other help lies the tactful, persist
ent showing-a lifelong demonstration-of
the happiness which comes from living
the life of gentleman or gentieWoman
whose courtesy and thoughtfuness in the
world is drawn from the fountainhead at
home and has ceased to be a polish and be-
come an integral fiber of character