The Washington herald., 1908-04-22
FROM WOMAN'S
POINT OF VIEW

Good manners are not so common that
one can pass by an exhibition of them
without comment At all events, / am
going to relate an instance of good
breeding which I witnessed the other
evening, because it was followed by
series Of scenes far less agreeable, and
was preceded by the usual j0stling and
.boorishness found in a crowded trolley
car.
A quiet gentleman, with fair hair and
mild blue eyes. that betoken good nature.
was seated in the fashionable part of
theater directly in front of a theater
party that trooped in near the finish of
the first act OF the play. Shortly after
the hustle of settling down had subsided.
he began TO squirm In his chair, and
finally began an investigation. There
was vicious length of pin standing out
from the back OF bis chair and slantisg
in such fashion that it penetrated his
shoulder. and hanging to the pin was a
lady's hat which she had disposed OF
in what she regarded as a clever manner.
Both took the incident in a pleasant
manner, with proper apologies and ac-
ceptance and considerable amusement the
well-bred manner of treating such Incl
dents. I was reminded of the many times
I had heen annoyed at the theater by
women who slipped foot between the
seat and back of my chair and kept up
a nervous wrigGling that sent chills up
my spine, TO say nothing of the injury
done my clothing by dusty shoes ono
woman invariably had seats directly be-
hind me. at first-night performances. and
made such an uncomfortable scene on
the occasion / politely asked her to
remove her foot that / endured the an
noyance till the end came in a manner
that did not suit her. although she could
not find fault with it,
She had a guest that night and gave
her the seat behind me, taking her own
back OF man of considerable size Up
went the foot as soon as she settled down
in her seat. and the wriggling Of the hap
less man in front concerned her rot at
all. I have always thought he planned
a revenge, there was nothing 10 prove il
in his manner. After the curtain dropped
on the first act he 'ose, threw up the
seat Of his chair. and caught the Offend
Ing foot firmly in a tfilp The woman
gave faint scream. which was lost
upon him, but her plteous plea to be re-
leased brought him 10 che rescue with
profuse apologies. which sounded sincere. /
That was the last OF that annoyance.
The man enjoyed the remainder OF the
play and the woman learned a lesson
through pain which she refused to learn
through politeness.
I have heard men confess to deliberate
plans for checking feminine rudeness.
When women tread upon their heels and
do not take the trouble 10 apologize.
they sometimes wait for an opportunity
ard pay them back in similar coin. adding
q Ecllte wO1C of regret meant TO teach a
lesson. When women refuse to lift trail
ing shirts men walk Upon them regard
less OF damage, but with apologies which
cannCt Se overlooked by any woman with
the east pcetense tC good breeding. A
woman who attempts TO crowd into se4;-
ing space that viii not nearly accommo-
date her fares well enough with the wom-
en- who are rendered miserable. but is
likely 10 remember the conduct Of the
mer on either side Of her Nobody mas
the least sympathy for her: on the con-
trary there Is considerable delight in the
spectacle Of deserved punishment Wom- /
@" have much TO gaii. by being pleasant
and wCil-bred but they cannot all be /
brought % the DCipt Of believing Il.
BETTY BRADEEN. /