Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-02-12
MANNERS IN AMERICA.
Glaring Defects Deprive Society OF the
Power Which Should Belong TO It.

A0MtA WAAAA AAQAAA 8NAtHh " -
The manners of the "young person . OF
America have been so long a target for
foreign criticism that il must be
a wonder to our transatlantic friends
that our older generation (who must
once have been young have any
thing admirable left, aside from the
extraordinary energy which, with a
little aid from natural resources, good
crops, and a variety of climate, has given
us a certain prc-eminence in material
wealth. Manners are simply q refinement
of amiability- just the art OF being kind,
which, as Mrs. Wilcox says. "is all this sad
world needs"-but motel an art. A rromi-
nent English student OF the United otstes
has said that, on the whole, Americans are
the least cruel people in the world, The
absence OF cruelty may be said TO be the
passive principle Of kindness, and very
good foundation on which TO begin a
structure of manners. But much remains
to do if we are to obtain to the fine art OF
social conduct-that supremacy of gra-
ciousness which is the bloom upon the
fruit Of the highest civilization. Without
manners life becomes, under whatever
glossy name, vulgar scramble for the
( trough.
A fundamental principle of social inter-
/ course is, within the range of self-respect,
/ deierence-not deierance to thee point OF
| weak complaisance OF obsequiousness, but
consideration OF each in the true measure
| of his worth OF needs: Difference to parents,
/ to the aged, 10 women, to persons OF real
/ distinction, to guests-nay, TO one Of a
casual encounter-the guest, as it were
/ of the passing moment. This is true hui
mility, that Lost Plead Of the virtues, and
it may consist with the frmest character
With the change of regimes and forms OF
government this code OF Difference changes
It's gradations, but it is as necessary tC
democracy as to an empire.
Will any one say that, in this seethinG
new world, in a food of immigration sucf
as never before has been witnessed, anc
in the sudden elevation to opportunity
through newly-acquired wealth. OF thou
sands who clamor for the "open door" o.
society. American manners are growing
in refinement and charm We yield "a
no one in loyalty TO the admirable type
of women and men which America pro
duces; at their best there are none finer
What we are considering is the average
Nor are we now engaged with the kinder
garten of society; the knowledge Of how
to enter or leave a drawingroom, or th'
passing of the small change Of converse
ton, &c, things that may be taken eithe
too seriously or not seriously enough Tit
main question is, Has our conception o
society kept pace with our opportunities
or has il fallen behind Have we, 70
instance, the French esteem for thing
intellectual, by which a writer or artist o
distinction OF a great scientist, takes prece
dence of the merely rich Is the mai
who serves the state faithfully, whether il
OF out Of office, as welcome, his social &C
ceptability being equal as the polishe,
manipulation Of great financial enterprises
We need not 60 across the ocean for ira
ditions of a society ruled by the highe
types of mind and taste. Cities lik
Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Balti
more, Richmond. New Orleans, St. Louis
each in its individual way,were once con
spicuous in the cultivation of what WI
know as old-time gentility. They had tn
then as now a firmly-drawn line Of ex
clusion; but is it today as inimical to tn
purse-proud OF the scheming promoter
or the vulgar rich
Not until after the present unsettle'
era Of prosperity shall have been succeede'
by the repose OF normal conditions will 50
ciety be in the way OF discovering AM
remedying the glaring defects that dc
pFive it OF the power which should belon
to it,