The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-12-27
OLD ENGLISH ETIQUETTE.

Seventeenth Century.
 Outside the world of the stage and platform, infant prodigies have ceased to flourish, but in the reigns of Eliza and our James, and of both the Martyr and the younger Charles the forcing house view of education obtained, and upper-class England was 8 nest of pre- cocious children. Almost as soon as a 'littell Some" could go or speak, he was initiated into "rudiments" and had to apply his 'intellectuals'' sedulously to syntax. It seemed no out-of-the- way thing for callow boy (Kenelm Digby) to accompany a political mis- sion abroad and, on returning, become at the age of fifteen-a gentleman com- moner of "Gloucester Hall" In like manner, the first Lady Falkland was married at fifteen, and her daughter at thirteen. Individually, as we'll as na- tionally, the seventeenth century was period of eager developments and nasty AlS'i NC2lillS, WliCll lIellblAsy Neo os tained, or assumed to be attained very much earlier than at present. Judging by modern analogies it would be diffi- cult to imagine that only thirty years had brought Sir Thomas Browne the phllosophic mind of "Religio Medici," while the bourgeois pursiness of Pe pys' tone of thought would suggest the diarist being nothing under fifty, though, as every one knows, he was but under thirty-seven when his deathless contribution to the human comedy was complete.
 Of all the early men of the seventeenth century reared-for who would call such rareripes children ?-none outvied little Francis Hawkins at the sort of pathetic achievement in which the seri- ous father and heavy uncle of the peri cd grotesquely glories. Born in 1928. this babe, before he was eight years old, rendered his renowned Youths Beha- vour" from the French of grave per- sons" Roughly describable as a sev- enteenth century Don't" Youths Be- haviour, or Decency in Conversation Amongst Men is probably unsurpassed as an epitome of contemporary eti- quette. In it's own time it was held in great esteem, reaching an eleventh 'ad- dition' in 1872. To almost every new impression there was added by various hands fresh matter more or less ger mane to the primary theme-at one l time further hints on "Arraying the Body" or on the "Titling of Persons" at another, "A Discourse Upon Some Innovations of Habits and Dressings" at another, a glossary "of those words [ that be used in naming of any Art or Science" and so forth. In 1852, "A { Gentleman of Lincoln's Inn paid the 1 book the compliment of turning it into Latin Finally, one Robert Codr ngton i who had been a rank parliamenteer i (and was still shocking bore), append ed second volume For the Instruct ing of the Younger Sort of Males and | Boarders at Schools"
 We naturally pause to contemplate the original putterforth of Youth s Behaviour" the small boy, "at whose stile" his bookseller begs the reader to ''connive." on the plea of its being wrought by an uncouth and rough file, of one in green years" Poor fin ! SOllitoC hppcilhC' Dlu lllS SIGCH years catch so much as a glimpse of the bliss of childhood, responsibility? Was he ever once crimson with frolic or unin- telligible with laughter? All internal evidence points the other way. We see an anaemic little person seating him. self sedate and towardly at his desk to indte.
 Precept 5. "Sing not within thy mouth, humming to myself, unless thou be alone: in such sort as thou canst not be heard by others. Strike not up drum with thy fingers or thy ! feet"
 And afterWard this.
 When thou blowest thy Nose take heed thou blow not as children do . ." (Of the further detailed instruc- tions in this branch it is sufficient to say that they throw lurid light on seventeenth century pronenesses.)
 With an ascetic contravention of the instincts of a real child the little school master Francis presently exhorts:
 Eat not in the streets, principally in the town, beest thou alone, nor in com pany; nor in the house out of season, and in the presence of strangers"
 Maxims however comic, come so tragically from lips but seven years old" that it is comforting to know that Francis Hawkins managed to grow up. Considering Youths Behaviour" he lived, indeed, to fair age
 But what pastiche the boys entire manual is of the litte ways and man. nerisms of our politer ancestors! Here we may follow them both to board and bed, and watch their goings-out and their comings-in, with all the minute perplexities of ethic and punctilio therefrom depending.
 Though hygiene was not unconsid- cred among them, it was with "anoth- ergess' consideration from ours. The following should provoke a Board Sshool infants superciious smile: Let not thy chamber nor thy table where thou studfest be unhandsome es- pecially in the sight of another, and if so be that thou hast one to make thy bed, leave it not uncovered when thou goest out thence" An assertion that occurs in Codrington's sequel should partially allay Johnny Jones contempt for the seventeenth century, though one notes that it is cautiously introduced as a remarkable observation" to wit. 'The Nurse and the Neoterick may pre- tend what they please, but it much dis courageth and dejecteth the sick Per son not to often change his Linnen. .' Let us congratulate ourselves that