Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-02
ABOUT BAD MANNERS


KT OF long ago resident Of New
Y York went into the postoffice in
that city to procure a money
order. AS there were half a dozen per-
sons ahead of him he naturally awaited
his turn, although he was in a great
hurry, as most New Workers. try to
make themselves believe they always
are. The other prospective customers
of Uncle Sam did not form into line,
but herded themselves about the win
dow. When those who were there first
had transacted their business this New
Yorker. considering that his turn had
arrived, stepped to the window to be
served What happened at this juno
ture he relates in these words:
Just as I was about to enter my
application, lady. who had just come.
crowded past several people who had
been waiting. as 1 had, and calmly
showed her application in before mine.
told her as politely as 1 could that I
had been waiting there at least fifteen
minutes and thought that, seeing was
in great hurry, / should have prece-
dence before her. whereupon she told
me was the rudest man she had ever
seen, and besides went into long dis
course concerning the manners of mod
ern men. /, nevertheless, held to my
point and saw that was served first"
After having cooled off he asks:
WAS right in doing SOP" He thinks
It1f IN trPxr l. u.
ethics of the case he has asked, through
the New York Times, that others
express their opinions regarding his
course OF action.
We are genuinely surprised that any
man who mas long enjoyed the refining
social advantages of the peerless town
upon the historic Hudson; who has
knocked elbows with the descendants
of Diedrich Knickerbocker; who has
been privileged to gaze upon the sacred
person of a descendant of the famous
game-legged governor of New Amster-
dam; who, perhaps. may have enjoyed
the more than a bowling acquaintance
with the creator of that justly priced
which in later day wrought
the undoing Of the distinguished molly
coddle from Indiana; who certainly
must have read more or less of the
newspaper condensations of the work
Of the illustrious Ward McAIlister.
entitled "How to Behave After You
Have Succeeded in Breaking In'-we
are surprised, aye, we are astounded
that there should have arisen any doubt
as to the channel into which this anx-
ious inquirer should have diverted his
behavior
Under any and all circumstances this
New Yorker, whose appeal for enlight-
indicates his gross ignorance
of the commonest laws of etiquette as
they relate to social intercourse be-
tween ladies and gentlemen, should
have
Avaunt there! The Herald narrowly
escaped committing itself! 1t retreats
in time! 1t seeks further enlighten-
ment, more definite evidence. before it
dare to pass judgment.
This New Yorker has not been fair.
He has tried to trip us. He is para
doxical, equivocal, deceitful-we may
be pardoned, we trust, for suggesting
the possibility that he has innocently
an untruth, lacking the
antecedent intention to deceive.
He says: "A lady who had just
come crowded past several people who
had been waiting"
Impossible. No LADY would ever
"crowd past several people who had
been waiting" Our friend from New
York needs one of two things: A new
pair Of spectacles or new lexicon.