The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-10-15

crntlcal display OF insincere devotion
which is tending TO disappear and that
as the world advances 1t will vanish
altogether. "a man." says this
New England critic, ''who gives
up his seat in 4 street car to pretty
girl and then goes home and kicks"
because dinner is not ready Is not gall
liant. With new ways Of living for both
men and women, gollantry must take
new forms, adapting itself ito new con-
ditfons." There is truth in this. and the
Baltimore Sun thinks that as the new
woman" becomes more and more self
sufficient the disposition to treat her as
an exceptional being entitled to mans
service will, no doubt, suffer dlmfnu-
tinn. She viii not expect Difference, IL
consistent, and will not get 1t. To q
certain extent, it may be admitted, gal
lantry is obsolete already. In some Sec
tions OF the country ladies are now COM
monty treated in a very matter of fact
way. in q given community there Is
much less gallantry exhibited nova
days than formerly, so that it Is q COM
mon remark that the old men are more
gallant than the young, andsa decidedly
gallant old man is called "a gentleman
of the Old school,
III gallantry," adds the Sun, sis no
more than n hypocritical display OF
insincere devotion" It might be laid
aside at all times with advantage to the
sincerity OF ones character. True gal
lantry. we venture to say, is not hypo-
critical. 1T is a trait arising out of the
disposition OF the brave and strong
man of large heart Ito protect and coddle
the weak at the sacrifice Of his own con-
veniencc. Such gallantry will show It
sclfIn kindness to women folks at home
as well as OH the street. The sight OF
Il woman hanging to q street car strap
is not the only test for the gallant
man to rise Ito. Domestic life and bust
portunltics for Eallantry OF the better
sort. How, 1t may he asked. Us true
gal.antry to be inculcatcd so that defer
ence to ladles shall be sincere? The an
swer Hall Cainc makes virtually ITO this
question in n discussion reported in the
London Humanitarian for October Is as
follows: by teachng boys not only bhe
facts of life. but the spirit OF chivalry
Boys are allowed TO grow up with a
sort Of passive idea that all women are
be lnculcatcd into boys. They should
be taught that 1t Is base and q degene-
rate thing to regard u woman as fair
game: THAT the only act OF chivalry
which II Is left TO the manly ito per-
fornin ahis nineteenth century Is to
turn his back on those who abuse the
weakness of woman for their own vile
ana selfish ends" III confirmation Of
uhe truth here presented, observes the
Tribune. 1t may be observed that
the one section OF the coun-
try in which the custom is general to
treat woman with q gallantry inspired
by respect is that section in which
ohvalrous sentiment Is still cherished
the South"
The Tribune thinks that much of THE
so-callcd gallantry Is false, insincere
affected. artificial and hypocritical, but
the true spirit Of galantry will never
die ont OF IL country where there are
gentlemen and gcntlew2men."
Certainly, so-called gallnntry Is false
as well as all that cur Knoxville friend
claims, If 1t us possible for IL to be any
ihing. However 1t may rest assured that
the days CT chivalry will always be with
the Southern pcople-lts Il part of their
life, contemporary.