Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-06-16

young peoples manners and the UNI
ceremOniousness, not to say slangi-
ness, of their speech. Any one who
has given thought and observation to
the question will admit that the asser-
ton is not altogether unjust nor I'M
founded. It is probable that We shall
never-and perhaps hardly to be de-
sired is it that we shOuld-revert to
the style of address that prevailed in
Sir Walter SCOTS time, when it was
fashionable to salute any acquaint-
ance who was not an intimate friend
in the third person, as Am l to infer
from Miss last remark that she
does me the honor to concur in my
last sentiments?" or, MAY one who
can offer no homage save that of graf
itude take this opportunity of express
ing his sense of the favor which Mrs.
-- so delicately confers?" These
flowery sentences would seem absurd
now, and should the most chivalrous
young man in Philadelphia accost a
belle at the Horse Show in such man
ner she would regard him as extra
ordinary indeed.
But there is a whole world Of diff
ference between these grandiloquent
sentences and the That's right, Miss
-" or lawfully kind, I'm sure, Mrs.
-" The fine speeches belonged to
the days when the stately minuet pre-
vailed. Modern curtness and slangi-
ness go with the cake-walk. 1t is
IL ri, Ic do
not talk slang, but any one who knows
very much about girls will not at
tempt to deny that the slang habit is
growing and the art of well-chosen
speech declining.
Of course, the grand manner is not
kilograms and telephones: of short
hand system OF manners as well as OF
writing. The old-fashioned courtesy on
the part of lady, and a deep and re-
spectful bow, eliminating in the kiss
ing of the hand, on the part of the
gentleman, are never seen now, ex-
cept on the stage. But really and
truly there is no dignity in the aver
age salutation. Men jerk off their
hats with something that answers to a
bow when they meet lady. The
merest nod is considered sufficient
greeting, while full-fedged bow from
one man to another would be looked
upon in the light of ridiculous ex-
aggeration. Women give bob of
their heads or just a smile.
Some one says that all the manners
of the day could be registered on a
postal card, with room to spare. Our
forefathers may possibly have erred
in exaggeration Of punctilio. We of
the present day, however, rush to the
other extreme, with imminent danger
that courtesy and politeness will be
| reduced to an almost infnitesimal
| point.
Nor should it be forgotten that wo-
men are the natural guardians of good
manners, and when they relax their
own men are sure to follow suit.
Men do not take the trouble to bow as
| formerly to women.
Apropos of this is the anecdote
which has been related of a certain
great lady who inquired in the most
ingenious and innocent way of a man
who had uncOnsciously offended her
sense of propriety by the character of
small birds that he was carrying
home in the crown Of his headgear.
"Why, what do you mean?" ex-
claimed the man, disconnected for the
moment, and not compromising the
drift of her remark.
ooh, it was because you seemed to
be SO afraid of lifting your hat too
far from your head that thought you
must really have something of the
kind concealed there which you fear
ed might escape" she replied, with
the utmost sweetness and suavity
How many men are there nowadays
who will go to the trouble of unglov-
ing their right hard before accepting
| that which a lady extends to them
when they meet her on the street?
How often do you find a man courtly
enough to throw away his cigar if a
woman stops on the street to converse
with him? How often do you see on
the street Well-dressed men smoking
cigarettes in the company of women?
1t is useless to harp upon the question
of men surrendering their seats to wo-
men in public conveyances. "And yet
when was in this country twenty
five years ago." said an old gentle
man yesterday, mo one ever dreamt
of discussing such a subject, since it
was unOueStiOnpd that no American
gentleman would remain seated in a
public conveyance while any woman,
rich or poor, old or young, white or
black, remained standing"