Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-07-21
A Common Sense View.

Just make up your mind that your
manners are bad, indeed, very bad; just
come to a realizing sense that you don't
seem to attract and hold people as you
should; arrive fairly and squarely at the
point where you can see. with quite
painful distnctness, that for want of
charm you are failing to make the sue
cesSful career you planned out for your
self, aud then sit right down and take Il
common sense view of the situation.
Waste no time losing your confidence or
courage, but look the situation directly
in the eye and say: Il will study this art
of agreeability just as | would study
electricity, or Il language, or dressmak-
ing.
Il can't get on any longer without it,
and | find that there are first and fore
most excellent text books upon the sub
iect to be studied. the rules and informa-
ton in which will be to me of inestim-
able value"
Having got this far along the right
and royal road to the attainment of your
desire. don't be either ashamed or afraid
to go straight and purchase some excel
lent volume on correct social usage. You
can no more succeed without it than you
can learn to discourse sweet music with
out notes, or prepare delectable dishes
without the assistance of an authorized
volume of approved recipes.
Select carefully compiled and perfectly
up-to-date works on the best and most
modern etiquette by well-known authors,
and do not be in the least deferred from
your study of rules because you may be
passing over first youth or because you
do not live in a fashionable commun-
ity where there appear to be larger OPP
portunities for practicing what you
learn.
There is literally no time of life when
it is too late to study and adopt the
principles of exquisite politeness. | am
proud to count in my list of friends a
man who made his money in Colorado
gold. and Il large part of that gold he
dug and blasted from the rock with his
own big strong hands. AT 45 he had a
fortune and he gave up the mines, came
east. bought a house in New York. and
began to fit himself for the enjoyment
If q social life.
Il earned my money by some hard
lickS.' he bravely said. and now | am
going to earn my social position by some
more hard lcks.'
He was as good as his word. The
hard ticks he put in while earning and
winning the society of cultured men and
women were devoted to the study of ETH
Quette ana gradual application of all
its hest rules Today he sists at the
head of his own table whprcat he enter
y
graceful. genial and correct manners are
as great Il credit to his pluck and sound
common sense as are his millions.
Now. if you wish to achieve rs excel
lent results as nay millionaire acquaint-
auce. take your work OF etiquette scri-
ously and study II with cheerful dill
cpuCe. Il guess it isn't any harder to
win Il sound reputation for good man
nnrS than il is to win n solid bank ac-
count" | once heard my eutcrprising
friend from the west say. and ii You
inst keep that same philosophy in prac-
lice. Won are bound ultimately 20 be
numbered among the well-bred ones Of
this earth.
advise y0u to remember. if you can.
that You do not take M this study. If
4 book that helps you TO the attainment
of aarceability. just because il is 4 iine
sort of accomplishment 10 possess. Keep
wei in mind that you study your ETH
nuettc authority lust as You study al
zebra. or geography. or history. because
it contains information that Is going TO
he soundiy and practically helpful to
Won all vour days. in business and out.
by day and Icy night. wherever or when
ever you mix with your kind.
ALalu. | am going 10 quote my friend
from Colorado. because on one occasion.
when We both stood in his library. he
took down a well-thumbcd book and re-
garled it half sadly, half admiringIy.
1T is my authority ON social usage.
be said and / wish very much ! had
begun tn study il and apply its rules
when l vas fourteen instead Of forty
five. I would have made my fortune
more RAPIDLY aud with less difficulty
tbau I djd had ! only known what
help could be found in "A little Ahowi-
edge IF etiquette.