The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-24
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& HER POINT OF VIEW 8:
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TT DOES SEEM that whatever par


and regarding the rights of others. they
should not neglect one point which has
much to do with the Oriental idea of
etiquette. Everybody is taught from
early years that after a visit in the
home of a friend bread and butter"
letter must he written. a note of thanks
for the entertainment and polite rec
ognition of courtesies. The time was,
too, when children were cautioned
about making unkind remarks of those
who had been guests In their home. or
In fact of any one. They were quickly
silenced when heard to give utterance
to irreverent criticism OF their elders,
and were probably sent out of the room
If their parents wished to comment
freely upon an acquaintance. This
was not done so much from frar of
repetition of the remarks made as from
natural sense of propriety. which
naturally shrank from filing the young
ears and the young minds with sus-
picious thoughts or a deprecated opin-
ion of those with whom they were fire.
quently brought into contact.
This delicacy Of feeling has largely
vanished If one is to Judge by the
sharp, hateful remarks SO frequently
heard from the little people. Just
see how her skirt hangs" was the OBJ
servation made by a small maiden Of
ten to companion as caller left her
mothers house and passed the children
on the veranda steps. Her clothes
always look just horrid." she continued
and the other child assented. The lit
tie cats-they had Just smiled and
spoken so sweetly In greeting the lady
In question who went off dilating on
the sweet manners Of Mrs. So-and-
Sos little daughter.
Yes, she Is very nice to meet" eX>
claimed another child of twelve, as the
name Of a certain friend Of her mother
was brought into conversation at a
thimble tea, where a room full of little
girls were chattering. Mrs. b Is
all very we'll to meet" she went on,
but didn't you know how Mr.. B. and
she fight at home?' And would you
believe 1t those little wretches crowded
round the speaker eager to hear the
horrid details Of domestic scandal?
How are you getting on at school?"
asked lady the other day of a little
girl. where she was calling. 'Beauti-
fully, Mrs. A" replied the small
maiden with great show of Difference
in softly modulated voice. After
she had gone the child proceeded to
get up and walk across the floor in
exaggerated imitation Of the guests s
somewhat peculiar gait, and all to the
uproariOus amusement of the mother
and an older sister.
my mother is hateful old thing"
declared a little boy to playmate
she said your mother paints her
face" he added, with true infantile
cunning. 1t transpired that the COM
plainant's mother had restrained him
from going to skate as he had desired,
and this was his effective revenge. and
the results Of her indiscreet comments
in his presence. And yet we wonder
how 1t is that children are often so
forward and pert. that they are so
conversant with the defects Of their
elders and have SO little reverence and
respect for anything or anybody.
/ The dear. old-fashioned custom Of re-
fusing to allow children to hear dis =.
paraging remarks made in the family
regarding persons outside was one we
can Ill afford to lose. 1t had q two
fold purpose. The elder people thus
held a certain dignified uplifted posi-
ton in the imagination Of the children
Never hearing disagreeable, spiteful re-
marks from those lips the little folks
naturally grew up with additional re-
gard and honor for their parents self
controlled speech and kindly nature
Why should it not be repeated in the
clean-souled. generous minded. unsus-
picious child? What particular vener-
alton can a little girl have for her
mothers sincerity or apparent gra-
ciousness when caller no sooner
leaves her door than. Immediately the
hostess and her friends fall to tearing
the departing one in pieces. ridiculing
her clothes, initiating her sty.. of
speech or turning some of her remarks
with sarcastic reflections upon herselfc
Is it surprising that a little creature
of eight confided to a friend who ex-
pressed admiration for the speakers
mother: "Oh, that's only her company
manner. Just you wait till you hear
her give those ladies' fits after they
leave!"
The oriental idea of hospitality was
that he who had eaten of your salt was
your friend, of whom you must think
nor speak no evil, whom If need be, you
must defend with your life. There was
all IltdHSIule DedutlIul Olu-tlIne renee
ton Of this tradition in the feeling that
he who had crossed your threshold
and whose hand you had taken in
amicable feeling was immune from not
only unkind speech. but thought. This
is as truly characteristic today where
there is actual good breeding, but un-
fortunately it is not too universal in
practice. Have We not all left the pre-
sence of women from whom we hated
to part, not because we loved them,
but because we were reasonably conf
dent that no sooner We're our backs
turned than they would 'netaphorically
rend us limb from limo? Doubtless 1t
is a merciful provision emanating from
our self-conceit that we do not feel
this consciousness oftene,' than we do.
We take revenge by more or less fire.
quently doing the same thing ourselves
or by tacitly giving our consent to the
finishing process of friends by holding
our peace when me might check the
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