The San Francisco call., 1909-02-28
By Olive Percival

~ UR ancestors do continually sur
prise us. but what can exceed
the amazement, perfectly justi-
fable, that comes with our first
glimpse at the approved etiquette books
OF only a generation or a century or
two ago?
1t IS comforting to believe that our
Eires and their danes were the PIN S of
courtesy and good breeding, irrBpec-
tive Of their nationality or their station
in life. But were tney2 To the fair
minded who study the novels, the jest
books and the courtesy books contem-
porary with their lives-lives lived per-
haps in the shadow of a palace--it is
not always evident.
And. except to the very young, who
can not see beneath the g1ittering sur
face, the exaggerated bows, the over
polished compliments, the kissing of
perfumed hands and the spreading of
velvet cloaks over muddy crossings
seem theatrical and decidedly tiresome
IN an age that believes in such things
as democracy, international conciliation,
coeducation, ragmatism.
Today one Of the most popular and
amusing fallacies among the nations is
that we Americans have no manners
whatever; that all our women are sell
fish, strident~voieed, overdressed Daisy
Millers' that all our men chew tobacco.
hide behind newspapers AT breakfast
end dine in their shirt sleeves And
yet many old cosmopolitans and travel
ers. who claim to be discriminating in
the matter Of good manners solemnly
declare that We can well afford 10 be
criticised by both Paris and Berlin.
We are ridiculously new. composite
race, but are we not an intelligent one
indisputably benign, interpretive. emu
lative, sympathetic and fond Of laugh
ter?
To us perusal of the etiquette books
that only century or two ago went
through innumerable editions in all the
great cities Of Europe reveals this i'm
portant. this unpleasant fact: that the
immediate descendants of all the picture
gallery folk, so picturesque in powdered
wigs, swords, brocades and lace frills
were in danger Of inheritine the man
ners OF snobs, Doors and pigs only.
While their background and courtlv
manners were extremely decorative we
must not regret that they have passed
away forever. Society has outgrown
the romantic drama period. IT is learn
ing TO think
Good breeding is founded only upon
the Gibraltar OF simple human kind
ness; but society has not alwavs been
kind and considerate and manners have
ever hnctuated with the tides or fash
Jon. The following dicta from a famous
courtesy book were penned by a GER
tain man OF affairs for real people.
who considered themselves the perfect
flower Of enlightenment. The glanor
Of this gentleman's century has faded
and. in the ears Of an educated democ-
racy, his paragraphs read like direc-
tions for puppet show only:
'1f in company with an inferior IL
IS well worth your attention not to let
him feel his inferiority. II
you take pains to mortify him il is an
Insult not readily forgot.
AT table there can not be greater
insult than 10 help an inferior to
part he oislikes and take the best
yourself.
Walking fast in Tie streets is
mark OF vulgarity- IT may appear we'll
in a mechanic or tradesman but suits
III with the character Of gentleman
or a man Of fashion.
Eating quick or slow at meals is