The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-02-25
T. Hopkinson Smith, the Nov
eIist, Says that InsoIence
Is Rampant.
NEW WORKERS ILL-BREO
OLD SCHOOL OF GENTLEMEN,
BOTH IN THE NORTH AND IN
THE SOUTH, Is FAST FADING
AWAY HE STATES.

New York, February 25.-Thoroughly
aroused and on the defensive against
any criticism of his assertion that New
York is the most insolent city in the
world-made at the Southern Society's
dinner in the Hotel Aston last night
F. Hopkinson Smith, novelist, civil en-
g1neer and painter in water cOlOrs, has
gone further and advocated chair for
manners in the colleges Of the country
as the" only cure for the rampant inso-
lence and lack of courtesy which he
believes is the trend of the times.
Il had no idea my remarks would
create SO much talk" said Mr.. Smith,
in his offices at 16 Exchange place,
but repeat everything said. l am
glad that the people are aroused over
anything l may have said. ! hope
they will become more so and will see
the need of teaching manners in our
schools. 1t seems that is the only way
to make the youth of this generation
gentlemen, and if the college authori-
ties should plead lack of time for
teaching courtesy, l suggest they have
the chair of manners take the time
now occupied in teaching football.
Standard Lost Sight OF.
81 don't believe all the gentlemen are
or were from the South" the novelist
continued. THE North has its stand
ard of gentlemanliness, too; but it, just
like the Southern standard, is undergo
ing woeful changes, alas,
I'VE are the most ill-bved people on
=, &c ho r1o hn rierh in
York If you don't believe it, just go
with me at ) o'clock to the Hanover
square station and see if you can get a
civil answer from any of the employees,
or to the Grand Central station, and see
what the line of cabmen say to you
when you refuse to engage their cabs.
OF course, it may be argued that these
people are mental and do not repre-
sent New York; but it must be remem-
bered they are of class which forms
80 to 30 per cent. of the population,
and that their example is bound to
have it's influence, to have weight to
drag thee down.
Just a Few Examples.
But | say this to show that inso-
confined to the laboring classes; that
the people who come into a theater
or opera house box at 9 o'clock and
disturb people who have paid S. to
hear the music land perhaps their
dollars are scarce) are as bad as or
worse than the conductor who shoves
a lady into a street car by the small OF
her back and a gruff Step lively!'
1T is an explosive subject to bring
women into. but l must. l will leave
out those who are still old-fashioned
enough to cling to the schools where
girls are taught manners as part of
the curriculum, and will speak only Of
the females who are shouting to vote.
That is part of the trend of the times.
Five years ago it would not have been
in the air, and whether or not those
who agitate the question are represen-
tative women, it is certain that there
are women who get up and speak to
other women in the manner of the one
l saw reported-who declared that
there is nothing left for us to do but
lash our legislators in the face and
that other women applauded such
speeches.
1T is not from such women that the
rising generation can be expected to
learn courtesy and gentleness-things
SO far paramount to any other issue
of the day that shudder to think of
what may be the condition forty or
fifty years from now"