The Washington herald., 1907-12-29
FROM WOMARS
POINTOF VIEW

Two women who were lunchinE with a
man al a highly respectable hotel. the
other day. may never know how near
they came 20 being politely requested to
leave the place They were young and
pretty. but they spoiled the noon meal
Of a score or more IN th@i- neighbO-hoOi
by their loud conversation and rough
manners. probably due 10 the cocktails
preceding their meal One valued patron
Of the house insisted upon eviction. but
the manager dreaded scene and
promised that the doors should be closed
against them in the future as reward
for the fOrbcarance Of q man who wanted
10 eat IL decency-yes. that was his
word
Some day those young women. possibly
with another escort. win be smiingIy IN
formed that there are no vacant tables
and that there is a waiting list 10 be at
tended 70 after seats are vacated They
have very polite ways OF doing these dis
agreeable duties. and when you think
them cornered by a clever movement
you viii md the service SO slow and so
bad that in sheer disgust YOU go else
where. / have seen a party so openly
neglected that the leader could not help
reseDurE IL and beating a dignifed re-
treat. There was a reason for discourag-
ing patronage which the public could not
fathom. but the snUb was UnmLSJakable
There have been society leaders. men
and women. who were elected from places
Of amusement because they made them
selves Objectionable 70 decently inclined
patrons Even their wealth and position
cannot save them from the consequences
OF their boorishness.
Those who have had educational and
social advantages are. for the most part.
weu-mannered. Occasionally somebody
who has been misied by vanity feels
above the ordinary requirements Of hui
manity and says so in acts which are a
discredit 20 the time and money and care
spent in bringing a creature 10 the devel-
opment possible IN these days. I have
seen men of this class annoy women TO
whom they were mere strangers BY a
rudeness that would not be tolerated in
humber circles Manners are not even
skin-deep sometimes
Women have right to drink in public
places-the question of privilege is never
raised-but the question Of breeding and
taste is asked in the eyes Of the disap-
proving public. The few women who want
10 smoke in all places waste a lot Of
energy in argument with prejudice that
is still strong. Why can they not be con-
tent 10 smoke in their homes. if smoke
they must? Then there would be none TO
offend.
I presume a woman has the right 70
drench herself in perfume and make life
hideOus for those who do not Ike H.
Probably the rough man who eats raw
onions and vets them down with cheap
rum is wholly within his rights when he
puffs this combination into the face OF
delicate woman who has the misfortune
10 be his nearest neighbor in a street car.
Possibly neither knows no rule of Ell
quette that covers the Offense. so il is
eXcusable. But when the petted sons and
daughters Of the best class-best because
Of its many advantages-chOOse 10 forget
the obligations laid upon them. they
should be promptly called TO account. as
they often are. There are marked men
and women in every city Of any size and
ignorance OF customs cannot possibly be
offered as the excuse for their unpleasant
notoriety- BETTY BRADEEN.