Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1905-02-22
ENGLISH MANNERS.
John Buii's Self Cosscsou. sup~rt.,-
Sly Only Had Br~~dspr

seh conscious suDerIos-
ty Only Bad breeding.
IL Is seldom. indeed. that an English
man VIII acknowledge that a man OF
any other nation has the advantage OF
him IN amy respect. Indeed. there Is. 7
believe, only one fault which we are
nationally ready 10 allow may be fair
~ attributed 20 U.S. certain lack OF
charm I'm manner In recent years
when l have lived much abroad. I
nave several times heard the English
people say. what pity II IS we
haven't more charming mannersr'
III we are ever to- have as pleasant
manners as our neighbors the first idea
we must get rid OF is that Il is n sign
or weakness TO be agreeable. A gfm-
let eye and a stiff upper lip are not
sure indications OF a moral grin or
even OF physical strength. Giants. we
know. can be genial. and a smiling
saint can be quite as godly ms the
austere skeleton with Tn expression
like distressed monkey bemoaning
the sins OF the Monkey house. To
nave what Is sometimes called IMAM
ner is not to write yourself down ef-
feminate. We English laugh heartily
at what we call the Blowing and
scraping" OF Frenchmen and Italians
as II we thought that by bending his
body man parted from his mascuiin-
lty. This Is folly and betrays only a
confusion OF mind that wakes scorn
in the intelligent.
Nhen Frenchman or an Italian
comes into drawing room he bows
low and kisses the hand OF his hostess.
rms IL pretty, but II Is not pretty
pretty" IL indicates a not servile
gratitude for hospitality accorded and
graceful respect for ones hostess.
The Englishman's entrance into room
and greeting are more brusaue and
show less courtesy. Then we are. as
rule, much more ION our dignity
with those whom we consider beneath
us In station than are the other Euro
pean nations except the Germans. We
like 10 mark our position.
/ suppose there is nothing more es-
sentially underbred than standing ON
ones dignity" yet many OF our Eng
fish aristocracy do II as well az the
nouveaux riches. They seem to think
II necessary TO give themselves airs.
Why l often wonder. especially when
note the easy simplicity and well bred
familiarity so universal among foreign
ers OF the same class. The English.
man, for instance. usually treats serv.
ants merely as servants" to use n
phrase | have often heard in English
mouths. He Is probably quite Just 10
them. He often prides himself on that
But he is markedly detached. He is
not human with them. II must always
be case OF master to servant, never OF
man 10 man. His servant IS 10 him a
machine He speaks to him with curt
GOODNESS. lie looks at him with a
frosty eye that is likely to chill.
Again I ask. "WhyT'' Where is the
necessity OF this tacit and perpetual
insistence on a difference Of position ?
The foreigner-horrid hut useful word
seldom bOthers about such matters
He treats the people round about him
who minister to his comfort with n
friendly familiarity. and rarely indeed
do they try 70 take advantage OF IT,
They In their turn venture TO be cor
dial.
We English are not bad hearted. but
we are bad hammered. and as most Of
us know this we ought 10 make an eff
fort 80 mend our manners. The truly
good manner comes from being lust
Internationally human and simple
without arTiere pensee. Surely we
ought 10 be able in time TO manage to
be that. Ii is all very well to comfort
ourselves with such phrases as our
bark is worse than our bite" No
doubt IL IS. but barking dog Is n nui-
sance. He sets nerves on edge. We
too often set foreign nerves on edge
10y our bluntness. our rough awkward
ness. our determination 10 have our
own way in trifies at all costs and our
unwiRingness 10 see that the habits and
customs prevalent in other countries
are not bound TO be idiotic merely be-
cause they are different from our own.
Il will he sincere" says the grufr
Englishman 10 himself when he sets
foot on foreign soil. None OF your
foreign nonsense for me- How pleas
ant Europe Will be when John Ruu
and his wOmankind can be sincerely
charming!-IOndon Mail.