The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-06-19
STREET ETIQUETTE.


There is no attention so useless and
annoying, offered by a well-meaniIg
young man to a woman, as that of stee:-
ing her about the public highways by
her elbow. At night a man always of
fers his feminine companion his ARM
his left arm. invariably. When walking
with two women at night he offers only
one his arm, and that to the elder of the
couple. By daylight he never offers his
arm at all, unless the lady is old and in.
firm, really. in need ofit, and never must
he venture to put his hand under tho
elbow, and SO rather push than aid her
along.
A courteous nan will always place a
lady on the inside of the street, that is,
nearest the house line, keep step with
her, moderate his pace to hers, lift his
hat when she bows, whether he knows
her friends or not, let her pass before
him upstairs and into any vehicle.
1t is etiquette when a gentleman
meets q lady on the street and wishes
to speak to her at length, for him to
turn out Of his own course and walk be-
side her, without bringing her to a halt
to listen to him. AS he m up he
lifts his hat. asks permission to join her,
resumes his hat instantly, and lifts it
again when he leaves her. If she ar
rives ather door and he fingers there for
a few words, he need not stand bare
headed. When bowling in the street he
lifts his hat q few inches and i~nclines
his head, and he invariably waits for her
to recognize him first, unless they are
good friends of long acquaintance.
Then the recognition is spontaneous on
both sides. No man, when walking with
a lady, should stop to speak with an
acquaintance of his own, or ask another
person to join them, though the other
person may be his own sister or mother.
Should he accompany a lady to her
own door, or to the house where she
may be going to pay a call, he walks up
the steps of the house, and does not
leave her until the door is opened and
she passes in. In case it is a shop she is
bound for, he leaves her at the door and
does not presume to enter, however
much he may wish, unless he intends at
least Stimulating a purchase, or she asks
his company further. If she wishes to
enter a public conveyance it is in best
taste for him to remain, signal it for
her, see her safely on the platform OF
the car, or close her cab door, and then,
lifting his hat, pass on.
A man is not obliged ever to pay a
woman's car or cab fare unless he has
requested her to accompany him t0
some place of amusement in either OF
these vehicles. 1t is true that this at
tention in a street car or bus is on his
part always permissible. if they enter the
conveyance on his or her invitation,
whether they meet in the vehicle, or en-
ter 1t together by accident.
In the case of a cab, however, it is a
great breach of civility for a man to
offer payment of it's hire, unless he is its
temporary proprietor, and the feminine
inmate his guest.
In a street car no gentleman ever fails
to offer his seat to a woman when the
conveyance is full. Whether or not he
is in a woman's company, and though
she precedes him when entering a pub
lie conveyance, she follows him out o.
it. If, when riding with a woman
friend in a street car, she rises to GO
out, he stands up, lifts his hat, but does
not assist her out unless she is intirm
as we'll as elderly.
1t is never kind nor graceful for g
woman to demur OF try to force on a
man her money if he offers to pay hel
car fare, neither is it good form. wher
she is walking with her friend and q
gentleman joins her, to refrain from
making an introduction between them
The woman so introduced to a mar
need not afterward recognize him, no.
need he expect her to. On the street
when a man joins a woman, if walkin.
with her only a couple of blocks, sht
q assuredly expect him to relieve he
of any parcels, books, ETC., she may b.
carrying, should they in the least seen
to inconvenience her. If a man joins
woman on the street, and his compan
is disagreeable, as well as unwished for
she need only quietly ask to be excused
and he will see at once her desire ant
leave.-Boston Globe.