The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-30

s5t 'T wish cities could teach their best
lesson,--of uulot i,intners. 1t is the
foiblc. especially OF American youth
pretcnsioii." 4H Ei5 XII IN
III 57 --RALrH WALDO EMERSON.
Il Emcrsons wish, III regard to Tie "lcs.
soil OF quiet manners" Is specially nppli-
cable to women. II goes along with what
Shakespeare says about tho excellent
d virtue of ga soft voice. that is 50 evil
IDENTIFY All accompaniment to "thc q,ict
manners"
Wherever the avocatun or the environ-
nert OF woman rlnccs her. however
lowly or exalted her station may be. her
Influence Is lmmeasurably Increased or
lessened by her cultivation, or non-cul-
tivatonJ Of quiet manners. and all
thnt is included UNDER so comprehensive
h term
The woman Of quiet manners Is tho
B woman Of quiet dress. Not shabby dress,
but TINT which avoids every tendency
towards the nashS and conspicuous, that
which ,s III entire harmony With the per-
snnnlity Of the wearcr, and adds dignity
and force to the influence which don't
mates It. Loud taste and prctension go
hand in hnnd with loud manners and
loud speech as onookers. like Emerson,
have every reason to know,
"Qnie,ness OF manner Is the trucst
mark OF culture. that which is closely as
ISOLATED IN womnnly composition with
rnodestN and refinement The moro truly
cultured woman Is. the more rightly
will she be able to estimate her intel
lectunl attachments and the more eff
fectually to make use Of such attain
ments, through proper md legitimate
channels. All protension is adhorrent to
llcr as being the hallmark Of shnlownoSs
and supcrfcialism. She wins her way
and holds her own by tho exercise Of
courtesy and a tact which rarely iostles
feelings. or awakcns prejudice.
The woman OF &'uuint manners" has
realized all that is implied In tho lines:
knowledge dwells In heads replete with
thoughts of other men
Wisdom in minds attentive to their
own" III
4 Her wisdom renders her not ohivious Of
the opportunities Of life, but enables her
to lay hold upon them In the proper way
and st the proper moment and. having
done 50, to turn them to the trucst and
highest use and purpose. q
Tho woman OF Quiet manners" is the
thoughtful woman. Being thouEhtful.
she is Interested in things outside OF
herself. She comes. through her think
ing. to have n cloarcr and juster esti-
mate Of what Is due to others. She Is
enabled to define her own limitations and
to be careful that she does not overstep
them In her work In the world. or In
that allotted to her within tho happier
province Of home. her consideration and
gentleness are more powerful for con-
quest than IAN army With Mrners.
Out of "the quiet manner" grows the
sweet serenity and reposc which renders
q woman the most attractive and beloved
friend and companion. ] banishes worry
and care from the face. lights the eve
with tho divine fire of sympathy. makes
the Inns n passport for what is best worth
hearing and engenders a restfulness or
shirt that Is most refreshing to those
within the radius of such an atmosphere,
IA In the twentieth century the rush ana
the hustle Of progress. the exactions or
n professional or official career, the de-
mands of womnn's clubs, the whlrl of
luncheons, dinners, teas and receptions,
render 1t moro than ever necessary that
women should hold fast to the standard
established by the cultivation of Quiet
manners and not be swept beyond their
depth or outside of self-erected barriers.
by the onward movement in social and
educational life.
There Is nothing that n woman can
gain that will In any wise compensate
her when she forsakes womanly tenets
and principles for the vain glitter OF
outward show.
This is an age of extravaganza. as the
least ohservant can see. But the moment
that woman Wills 1t, n reform. universal
and potent, can be established. Then
women can unite with cities, In teach
Ing their best lesson" and the "foiblc
OF American youth.-pre tension" can he
no longer n text for n sermon from the
pen Of those, who have imbibed, some
what the spirit Of Emersonian phlos-
THE EDITOR