The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-06

Adelaide Gordon is to write for the
Saturday Journal. The negotiations
which secured for this paper the reg
writer on social culture We're closed
successfully yesterday.
Mrs. Gordon is known to men and
women in all walks Of life, from the
highest almost to the lowest, as a
writer Of social articles and editor Of
the works of others, including Ella
WheelerWilcox, Harriet Hubbard Aver,
Mrs. John Sherwood, Mrs. John A..
Logan, Rev. Phebe A. Hanaford, Mar
quise Clara LAMA, Mrs. Burton Kings
land, Margaret E. Sangster, Mrs. Leon
Harvier, Mrs. Donald Mclean, Mrs.
Dore Lyon, Marion Harland, Lille
d'Angelo Bergh, Margaret Watts Liv-
ingston, Rev. c. w. de Lyon Nichols,
and Walter German Robinson, some
writing Of the homely but heart close
little problems of hourly life, others
writing of the fine, high culture that
marks the truly best society. All of
these famous authors have been edited
by this deep student of good minds
and social relations.
1t was, in fact, the keen, true analy-
sis of social motive and expression,
the broad, true perspective in which
she viewed her subject; it was her
quick and settled perception of the
finer distinctions of social life which
brought to Adelaide Gordon her pres
ent fame, and won an instant and en-
thusiastic appreciation for Correct
Social Usage" the. work in which the
writings of these famous authors are
collated for the members of the New
Y DIRK Society of SeIf-Culture.
= The work, in the preparation of
which Mrs. Gordon acted as general
in-chief, laying out the field and sup
cruising the work, has been pro-
nounced the most thoro and compre-
of being agreeable, the art of pleas
Ing, the art Of appearing we'll, and all
the great or fine principles of pleas
ant and correct social relations.
Mrs. Gordon is more than an, au-
thority on mere ''etiquette.'' Her
writings are not the hard and fast
rules that make the horror of the
don't books" -
Il have always had an aversion to the
ordinary book of etiquette with it's
rules, it's contradictions, it's hackneyed
instances" said Mrs. Gordon when in
terviewed at her exquisitely appointed
home in upper Madison avenue, New
York. I'm fact, L have always been
doubtful regarding the real authority
upon the niceties of sociaE department..
They so often disagree and some Of
them display such Grass Ignorance of
the subject that do notS.Wonder* that
many persons, like MYSELF distrust
and dislike these books of mere rules.
There is more in the art Of pleasing,
and of making social intercourse en-
'don'ts' or rules. It is really a matter
for analysis, just as all. human acts
and motives can be analysed with
more or less accuracy. And if my writ
ings have, proved helpful it must be
largely owing to this point, Of view. =,
This analysis of social intercourse,
the amiability, the unselfshness, the
desire, to please, has always. been my
favorite study: write Of such topics
with love and real interests an asses
1T is very human, T think, and
shows quite a proper. self-respeet when
one feels the desire to advance; in So
cial life, ~ continued Mrs. Gordon. I'VE
all wish to find our proper level, and
the man oraWoman with true self-re-
spect must believe that the proper
level is at the top. For such a one,
with fair EDUCATION and even the
slightest opening to social opportun-
lty;f success is always possible! 1t is
literally never too late. I know this
because I have seen 1t in hundreds of
cases, the true. social culture, .self-ac-
CURED late in life by persons. who, for
lack of proper environ1aent, have
grown up without the saving touch 9of
the higher courtesy and agreeability.
Not Matter of Inheritance.
"The1e is no greater fallacy than the
common belief, that true courtesy, So
cial poise, and the art of being agree
able are inherited. They cannot be in
herited. In how many cases do we
find that. the son of a fine, 'high-man-
nered gentleman, while he inherits
the grace Of carriage, the gesture
and the kindly features of his sire, in
herits neither the manner, the pow
err of pleasing, nor the aniable un-
selfish. heart Of the true. gentleman.
The son of the most pleasing man in
social life, if he depended entirely
upon heredity, would be no better
hammered, no more pleasing, no more
successful socially, than the son of un-
couth parentage. Sra ~
But when r speak of heredity, do
not imagine that am making little
Of the imp Of 'Envir onment,' -
she added quickly, and growing very
serious "One-third of the. pleasing
attractive, well-mannered men and
women in society, or in more; modest
relations of informal friendship, are
products of the youthful environment
the guiding touch and example of ia
Their and mother who themselves were
Well-mannered. =1F@
''The other two-thirds, believe me
are seiS-cultured. Their manner is as
good, they are as pleasing in society
as well poised, as the men and women