The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-09
COURTESY OF RICHMOND MEN.

COURTESY OF RICHMOND MEN.
Richmond manhood mas gotten deal of unen-
yiable notoriety and no mean degree Of lambast,
/. ing because Of an alleged lack OF chvairy and
courtesy toward women on street cars. The crit
icism Is wholly undesecved for however much
the statement that men were tired of yielding up
their seats to women who neglected to express
profuse thanks. may have expressed the senti-
ments of the original writer, it cannot with any
degree of truth be regarded as indicative of the
general belief or feeling of masculine passen-
gers on cars IN the capital city
Numbers of papers throughout the State have
pointed fingers of scorn at Richmond as re-
suit of the false impression, and In practically
all of them has the comment been made that the
capital of Virginia was believed to be the last
place on earth that could be accused of deheien-
cy in breeding. chiYany or courtesy toward
beautiful Southern womanhood.
Editor Copeland of the Newport News Times
Herald. who is but little less than paragon of
sll the chivalric virtues. takes the men of Rich
mond To task in the following language:
"A Richmond paper says that many
Young men in that city have resolved
TO keep their seats in the street
and let the women stand, SO long the
women keep silent in accepting the
courtesy. These gallant young men hold
that politcness is two-sded affair,
and that when they offer q seat to
lady who enters a crowded car, she is
bound by every rule of etiquette to
smile and return thanks. But they de-
clare that the rule is not observed by
the women. generally speaking. that
women pounce upon a seat that is offer
ed accepts 1t as a matter of right and
gives no evidence of her appreciation.
However. the resolve of the gallant
young to seat the women out.
Hence the uItimatum. No thanks.
seat
File upon you, young men OF Rich.
mond. Is this your idea of chivairy?
We hope the women will resent your
prescription We hope that they win
stand and hang ON thelstraps and make
you so ashamed of yourselves that you
will bow down TO them and beg them
to take your seat upon any terms that
may be agreeable to them"
Were the subject matter treated by Editor
Copeland TRUTH would agree most heartily
with him. II is not. however and wish to
set him as we'll the men of Richmond right
The latter have been arragned for newspaper
talk and not lack of chivalry.
We are well-grounded in the belief and have
ample warrant for it, that Richmond is the
home of chivalry. courtesy, manliness and good
breeding, and it will take more than the Pigment
Of an imagination to shake our convictions.
The men of Richmond do not gfve.np their
seats in street for the thanks they get, for.
as writer on "gentlemens duty puts it, true
politeness like true charity. wants no reward
When exercised for reward 1t is counterfeit
The chivary and politeness of Richmond man
hood is the real sterlins article and therefore
VI IL seeks NO reward The masculine element of
the capital city gives its seat to the gentler sex
because ii is bred in the bone and blood, and
nothing else could be done. Richmond men are
not wanting in any particular In the duties of
gentlemen, and We feel equally certain that the
women need no instructions along the line of
gratitude and acknowledgement OF courteses
conferred, If the ladies' have neglected to be
sufficiently "gushy' with their thanks, II was
undoubtedly due TO The fact that at the time the
seat was yielded they were struggling to keep
their balance, or because by experience they
have learned that Richmond manhood Is gifted
The deepest gratitude that which knows
expression in mere words