The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-24

There is a depiorable lack of man
ners not only among Americans, but
among other people as well. although
We. belonging to a newer country.
show 1T in more parked degree than
other nations.
In public places our lack of man
ners is positively inexcusable in civil
f1zed people. Even people of breed
ing seem to feel at liberty to leave
their manner at home. Perhaps it is
on the principle that one must fight
the devil with fire" or is II because
in this commercial age we do not
give something for nothing
We are busy people and have had
little time for the amenities OF re-
fined life, but If we only realized what
an asset politeness Is we might cub
tivate it, Time Is money" is our
slogan, and truly il Is that commodity,
described by the Book AS the root
of all evil" the root we are all dig
ging for, that il largely responsible
for the rudeness observable in all
public places, in crowded thorough
fares and In public conveyances, for
we must reach our destination as
quickly as possible. and everything
must make way for the pursuit Of
tlie almighty utltdE.
III weswould pause in this mad race
for riches and realize that there are
things that money cannot buy, that
the mind and heart of man are Of
! more value than all the wealth of
Golconda: that their yield, under ia
Vorable conditions is greater and
of more lasting benefit to mankind
than all the gold of Cripple Creek:
IL wer@ould realize these things and
take time to Improve ourselves and
seek the good in others. more kind
~ feeling would prevail among all
classes. and we would be more
thoughtful of one another, The gen
tleman is gentle and thoughtful in
his bearing toward others.
Glance at your street cars during
the rush hours. Men. apparently gem
tiemen, push to right and left, with a
| fine disdain for sex, age and condi-
ton, to get a seat, whore. when COM
| fortabiy ensconced, they open their
/ paper TO its fullest extent, regardls ss
| OF people on either side and the luck
! less strap hangers in front, who
| might be women or decrepit old men.
| What can YOU expect of their lowlier
brothers who have had no such breed
ing as your gentlemen Still, in
most cases, 1T is the workingman who
pileTS his seat 10 the woman.
Many people urge that women are
just as rude as the men. and it is
the women who are set upon a pedes-
tai, SO II they have no manners men
do not feel called upon TO display
any gallantry. In these days when so
many women are forced 10 be the
bread-winners instead of bread-mak-
ers, they have business hours as well
as the men, and how are they going
to reach their places of business un-
less they push and shove like men :?
There are women who are just as rude
as men, sometimes ruder, for women
never do things by halves
Scene IN street car: Woman enters.
The man rises YEARLY and she who
has sat in an orchestra chair all the
afternoon, chewing gum and enjoy.
ing the show" takes the proffered
seat without so much as glance al
the man whose gentleman instincts
have not all deserted him. Small Won
| der that gallantry is being relegated
to the past when it receives so cold
reception! The women are largely
responsible for the attitude OF the
men of the present day, when acts OF
| courtesy are met In such manner.
While we have made such tremen.
dous strides In all activities of life
In the arts ana sciences, In matters
social, educational and economic--our
manners have deterioted. We have at
last discovered one fundamental truth
that social betterment must be
brought about through the young
and 80 we are giving our future men
Eand women every educational adyan-
tage and ARE looking4te the welfare
OF their bodies as well as their minds;
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