The Washington herald., 1909-10-18
OFFICE GIRLS MANNERS

| Nheh 4 was little girl my lady
mother always checked any vain exhibi-
tion Of vanity on my part by the maxim.
/ Pretty is as pretty does" Rosy cheeks
and shining braids and tiny feet and
hands might be all very we'll she would
gently remind me. but refined voice.
/ politeness. consideration for others. these
were the things by which people OF our
class were judged. writes Temple Bailey
IN the Philadelphia Press
! And Pretty is as pretty does comes
back to me when I see the bevies Of
! handsome girls streaming out OF big
buildings into the street after Office
/ hours. Such handsome girls-simply 20
look at they are beyond criticism. but
oh, the lack OF the pretty does IN
many OF them
Ny attention was first called 70 their
shortcomings by the general manager OF
big mail order house.
Cant you say something 20 girls about
the way they act he demanded. When
! we have them under our care during
! the day we can enforce rules. but IN
I the street cars. IN lunch rooms. on the
/ street I am appalled,, ashamed OF them.
| They seem 10 strive for conspicuousness
ra,her than for the reserve that charac-
terizes a lady in public place"
! ! didn't dare tell him that the dear
/ old word lady has gone out OF STYLE
so that no one now quite cares to claim
the title. But I wish We might revive
I ii or that other good word, gentle
woman" and live up TO all that they
embody Of grace and sweetness and con-
sideration.
I fafffur IN -
prove on the rowdyism that is beginning
- mar the manners Of many? I have
50 much faith in the good sense and
taste OF the average wage-earner that I
must believe it is carelessness rather than
intention that leads many OF them TO
extremes.
IL I might formulate a set OF rules
for the correction Of the worst offenses
should begin with number one in
capitals: Don't chew gum
Oh, I know. you will say that Il isn't
just the busy girls who chew gum. but
that everybody does H. Well so at one
time was the habit OF chewing tobacco
universal among men. But Il was none
the less unpleasant, and people from
other countries. notably Charles Dick
ems. wrote OF II scathlngly as a national
bad habit. and men woke 10 the knOwl-
of them indulge to-day
Gum chewing isn't as bad as tobacco.
and in the privacy OF ones own apart
ment may be INDUCED in But as you
value your beauty don't work your Jaws
energeticaliy in public places, thereby
spelling your good looks as well as
your claim to adjective "weD-bred"
L know that many girls affect to de-
spise good manners. but deep in her
heart every one OF us wants dignity
and poise and all the other hallmarks
OF gentility. and IL we are wise we will
go TO work TO acquire them.
Rule number two might have to do
with street-car etiquette.
Don't pile into the car as II you were
in a football rush. Give some of the
feeble folk a chance You are young
and strong. and II you have been sit
ting down all day you can let the tired
older woman or the crippled man have
the seat that they need more than you
do.
Good manners have their source. as
a matter OF fact in goodness Of heart.
II you will think OF the comfort Of
others, you will find yourself exhibiting
the truest courtesy. The door that Won
hold open for the woman behind Won
the exchange Of seats that you make at
the lunch counter so that two friends
may sit together, the lowered voice IN
the library, these are all evidences Of
thoughtfulness as we'll as OF good breed
ing. SO that even IL you have lacked
the training that makes such things in
stinctiVe. you can follow the dictates Of
a kindly heart and not go very far
wrong.
Rule three might relate to table man
ners Are you one OF the girls who
talks loudly for effect, IN the lunch
room7 II you knew how inane most
overheard conversations sound YOU
would recognize that in public places
silence is. indeed golden. Do YOU bolt
your food in hurry. and saunter out
with a toothpick in your mouth? n Won
do any OF these things YOU are breaking
all the canons of good taste. and stamp
ing yourself as one OF those who meyer
will know and never will understand
| Rule four would ask you 10 be careful
Of your language Slang. bad grammar.
how these spoil the prettiness OF the
prettiest girl. You remember the Old
fairy tale Of the Good Maiden from
whose lips. whenever she spoke. dropped
diamonds and pearls, and OF the Bad
Maiden who was cursed with a shower
of frogs and snakes. How we all de-
| sire the diamonds and pearls OF correct
speech. and how many OF us seem con-
demned to the frogs and snakes OF
slang
And yet. a little carefulness a little
listening to those who know how 10 talk
a little reading OF good prose and poetry.