The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-09-02

New York. among NJ other claims to
prs-esanence. has = Society for Self
Culture which We might. without undue
strain. pronouncs bully scheme. You
pay your so for membership and re-
ceive three books which tell you Just
how you are to act to became a gentie-
man under all circumstances. This is im-
portant, but II Isn't all that this Society
binds itself to do. It not only teaches
You to become gentleman. bur enters
Into q contract BY which It binds itself
to keep yeu in the gentleman class. and
to keep you constantly posted on the
changes and discoveries IN the gentleman
business.
A. before remarked. Il b . bully scheme,
and we've no doubt that the fees pour
in with satisfactory frequency. Not all
Of IN have been blessed with the advant-
ages which society deems essential to
constitute gentleman. what Tennyson
calls The grand old name of gentleman
depeud more on character than man
ners. but We moderns require something
more than honesty and uprightness. and
this New York Society proposes to tell
you what It II, how to got 1t and how to
keep It.
Some Of thequestions in their books are
interesting one. for example: ri
an accident should take place at the
dinner table. would you know exactly
what to do any sayT. Now. II we were
disposed to be critical. we should remind
these teachers that accidents do not take
place." they occur. but let that pass.
Whether a man would know just what
to do any say, depends very much on
the character Of the accident we imag-
inc. If one should upset plate Of boil
ing. soup in his lap. what he would do
doesn't require any teaching, and un-
less he Is very earnest and consistent
Christian. It isn't hard to guess what he
would say. Not having the book conve-
intent we cannot say what 1t would tell
the unfortunate guest to do. but suppose
1t would advise him to smile pleasantly
and ask the waiter II there was any soup
left If he tried 1t, however. he would
be like Death in Millions Paradise Lost,
who "Grf aned horrible CHASTITY SMILE"
What the average man would actually do
would be to say a few real strenuous
words and break for the nearest hydrant
That wouldn't be according to the book,
perhaps but 1t would hug human ma
ture very close.
There are other interesting questions,
among them this one: do you under
stand the art of making every one happy
at your social affairs7' That, also, is
an important matter. II q guest has
crooked nose for example. 1t isn't good
taste to ask him II his grandfather was
kicked on the face by a mule. and II
lady at table has blasting red hair. any
allusion to comets would be out of place.
This book will tell you what to talk
about.
But there IL one question that 10 worth
the price Of admission. II the correct reply
is given, and that relates to q case where
you have been informally introduced to
another man at q public reception. and
the query is-"Would you recognise him,
IL you meet him again?" That question
Is really important, because IL the other
fellow is the biggest, you want to know
just how you may cut him without get
ting your face smashed. Besides, he is
likely to be q creditor. and If you ignore
him where are you?
But it's a bully scheme.