Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-08-25
A Freedman of wide travel ana

ptIltncts once said 10 an America.
Your politeness in the States Is no.
form, bnt fact. With US, courts,
towards-swo has always a person
element, You can do a woman a -
vice without looking at her"
He proceeded to explain further:
I'VE, however, have the advantage q.
a more fixed etiquette, that leaves orc
never at a loss to know the prom,
thing to be done under. given circgm-
stances, that gives ease OF mind and
bearing q. the individual. and elegance
and grace to society at large"
There is then distinction between
good manners and good form. ina
one comes from innate good breeding
the other may be acquired by careful
study and close Observance Of the form,
Of behavior that at the moment are
fashionable. .,
As man may be wise without learn.
ing, SO he may be polite without e.
quette.
At the root of fine manners, however
usually lie the eternal principals II
kindness and thoughtfulness; and. al
some one has safd, although courtesy =
not Christianity. 1t is very good I'M
tation Of It, since most Of the rules ~
etiquette are based upon unselfhshnsss.
and the proper regard for the fee.IZss
of other people.
We have all heard the story OF ma
French king who was so well bred that
when one Of his guests dropped price
less wine glass, Immediately, as though
through inadverte nee, broke one him
self TO prove that such a misehauee
might happen TO any one and was OF 70
IN
George the Fourth, drinking his "a
from the saucer TO relieve the embar-
rassment OF young maid Of honor, re-
Gently come 10 court, who had provok-
ed the smiles OF the company by Ike
proyincialism,-is another instance
where courtesy shows Christian insplF-
alton.
The custom of leaving card for eY-
cry member of a family. when calling,
is designed>to give assurance that each
person has been distinguished individ-
ually in ones thought We make care
full toilets in visiting and receiving our
friends, to do them honor.
We call promptly upon our hostess
after an entertainment to prove our
selves not ungrateful for the trouble
that she has taken to give US pleasure.
We are expected to talk in low, we'll
bred tones that we may not disturb our
neighbours thought or conversation. A
host has the first drops of fresh bottle
OF wine poured into his glass lest a bit
of the cork might, by chance. incom-
mode his guest
There is tacit understanding that
we shall be agreeable to one another,
always putting the best on the outside
and keeping our private woes to our
selves.
st. Paul. in his speeches and letters,
is the very model of a gentleman. In
fact. courtesy, Cancellation, forbearanee
kindliness, which are OF the very ma
ture and essence of politeness, were
strictly enjolned by the first teachers
of Christianity Manners are minor
morals. The children are taught
ITO be truly polite is to do and say
The kindest thing in the kndest way"
1t has been found, however, that the
various pursuits and interests of So
ciety move forward to the best fulfill
ment of their several purposes and
work together most hanmoniously when
guided by certain fixed rules, the will
ing observance Of which establishes
ones claim to gentlehood in the minds
Of others, and gives ease and confidence
in whatever society we find ourselves.
People have agreed upon certain con-
ventions which have through the ages
grown into a code-a decalogue of good
behavior.
There are circumstances where even
the golden rule which exhaustS
most of the requirements Of pofteness
fails us AS an instance of this: A
r;V1 o+ bar. Il w
offered a seat by her partner during
one of the painting pauses of waltz.
whereupon she answered with instinc-
tive unselfsness bat with entire igno-
rance of etiquette, ooh, I am not tired;
you sit down.
The conventional conduct known as
good FORM" or the lack of it, brings
unerring revelation of a persons social
advantages and position, and proclaims
him a provincial or a cosmopolitan.
man who attempts to combine the
attractions of wine and of Iced water
by making the ."sorbet" the accompan-
iment to his entire dinner, or orders a
large cup of coffee with milk at the con-
clusion Of the meal, may be more
worthy member of society, a finer spe-
cimen of manhood, than the gilded
youth of fashionable circles, but ne
would not be regarded as man OF re-
finement, hardly as a gentleman, by
the privileged classes here or in Eu-
rope
The social code has been written and
reviewed as much or more perhaps than
any other code of laws in the world
The whirlgig of time brings about so
many changes that what was ortho-
doxy in one age is heterodoxy IN the
next For example, twenty years ago,
the favorite manner of announcing an
engagement in New York was for the
happy couple to be seen arm in arm Oh
sGmc fashionable thoroughfare on sun
day after church
Kew vulgar! How provincial. eX-
claims the present generation Bat
what would they think of the manners
OF our more remote neighbors, when as
bride and groom making their hrst APP
peartuce il church, they proudly tooN
the nest prominent seats and IN the
middle of the sermon deliberately rose
and ,urned slowly around several tunes
t. display their wedding fnery fuIy
and unb,rshingiy This extraordinary
exhibition Is voached for upon undIS-
pWGbIy.f od authority.
91s #osI etiquette meant Original
~ d ticket or tag affixed TO bag ot