The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-06
ed Can the citizens ask for a better
system OF government


/ standard Of social morality, but the IN
teiiectual capacity Of the man has
never been questioned, and many OF
his admonitions prove thorough
| knowledge OF human nature
| He does not manifest a very senti-
! mental or even an exalted idea of
| woman. but his observations upon her
| virtues and her weakness have value
| which will not decrease with the pass
| age Of time. Above all things in the
| associations Of society he advocates
| politeness TO women as an indication Of
| gentiemanly instincts. and even goes
SO far as to encourage fattery as a
delicate recognition of woman's claim
| to agreeable attention.
| The attentions they require" he
| says. "and which are always paid by
| weii-bred men. keep up politeness;
| whereas men when they live together
| and without the lenity Of women, in
company are apt to grow careless. neg
| ligent and rough among one another"
| This Is too true to require any evi-
| dence except the experience CT every
| man. II might be better II every man
| were polite 20 women because Of a
| sincere regard for them; but the habit
| of being attentive 10 and considerable
| OF women will not only impart a bet
! ter tone TO the relation but develop a
| true chivalry.
| Women can do much TO foster this
| spirit. They can in a dignified way.
| without being austere. exact a respect
! fui deneanor on the part Of men which
will raise both in their own esteem and
| in the estimation of the other. Friend
Illness need never admit of familiarity
| Familiarity Is only a relative condition.
What would be familiarity in some re-
lations is not SD in others. But at no
time and under no circumstances can
that be other than familiarity which is
a step Beyond the bounds warranted by
the degree OF acquaintance. and it is
always familiarity when the act pre-
sumes upon the relation and is cal
culated TO lower the woman in the eyes
Of her sex or of the world.
A woman at any age robs herself Of
a right when she permits either Ian
guage. address or attention which will
make her the object of ridicule on the
part OF others. When she "cheapens'
herself by easily submitting to ia
miliarity she has taken one step to-
ward lowering herself in the estimation
of the man, who gratfies his own van
ity by the appearance of conquest
But this is going beyond the formal
politeness of which Chesterfield speaks
This form OF considerable attention is
due not only to the young and pretty,
but to the aging and plain. 1t Is a
tribute not TO beauty and to youth. but
to woman as a sex. A woman is far
more sensitive to a want OF attention
as she advances in years and far more
resentful II she be plain than younger
or more beautiful women whose exu-
utEaHSS anu sell U@tdAi
them against chagrin at the absence OF
formal homage on the part OF any par
ticular man.
Society need not become insincere be
| cause OF nicer observance Of the con-
ventionalities. On the contrary. Il viii
| insensihly lead UP 10 an Increased self
TGa s,.t 81 -. fs
fectation OF brusquencss IN addressing
women: 1t is due 10 mistaken notion
| that a man is more independent II he Is
| careless in his language or Off hand in
| his manner. There is too strong dis
| position to use slangy words. 10 dis
| play All unconcern. In the presence u
| women. which degraies that sex With
| out elevatiag the other. The aga Of
/ chivalry is the most romantic, the most
| dIgniied and the most picturesque in
| all history. Courtesy was TO doubt
| carried to an extre1ne--to such ar ~
| tveme that it.was ridiculed almost OUT
| Of existence. Between the sti,ted for
| nality which marked one past epoch
| ara the rough approaches Of the pres
ent day lies a happy medium which
women can DO much 10 maln,ain T.
| the great advantage Of both. soNes
| Mem do follow the example 81 women.
they 10 obey the mandates Of society.
they readily assent to demands made
upon them for polite and respectful
| attention. and where that is wanting
woman has ADDICTED her Sovereignty
and stepped down to the coarser level
| OF uututoT~d man.