New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-12
THE MANNERLESS MALE
Sins of the Superior Sex Gener-
aIIy Go UnadmoniShed.

THE women's magazines are filed, OBJ
served tho sunragette hostess somewhat
tartlv. with instructions and admonitions
for tie girl who goes a-visiting. How.
when TO maid is kept. she must care for
her own room and assist with the lighter
household tasks: how she must guard lest
her curling iron soil the bureau cover;
how she must dispose Of superhuous hair
comhinCs.
These instructions make interesting
reading but ! lament that the male OF the
species, in hts capacity as guest. has FOR
50 long been permitted 10 so unadmonsh'd,
for. in ny experience, he is much more
Utclv 10 10 an offender than his sister.
WHY does no one write a useful I'I'
manual for the would-be male guest-ho"
he can become popular with his hostess ana,
during a weekend visit. refrain from max
ing an unmtigated nuisance OF himself
Last summer. in rather primitive fash
ion. We kept house in n bungalow ny IN"
sen From time 10 time we entertainer
men guests over Sunday. and ! have
keen mental Picture registered ineffaccahly
in my memory as to the behavior Of each
ore know very well which ones are
going 10 get another invitation and which
are not.
TAKE for instance. Joe. In the city he
always appeared a delightful fellow. with
a fund ~ clever anecdotes and ready COM
plinents He is noted for his charming
manners Somehow. since last summer.
whenever his charming manners are men
toned, | recall his blithe air as he strolied
down 10 tho beach that Sunday morning.
faet that 10
no maid and whatever household tasks
were performed must be by them. re-
call very definitely the condition in which
I found his room; IN" hedclothes IN
tousled heap. his pajamns on the hoor, the
washbowl full OF dirty suds. Cigar ashes
scattered all over the clean towel on the
dresser Also | recall that not once during
the forty-eight hours he spent under our
roof did he offer to help haul the water
from the pump or make the acquaintance
OF the woodpie After meals no pulled his
Pipe in placid contentment on the 'front.'
porch. while we struggled In the Kitchen
with tho pots and pans. Joe lives In n New
York boarding house. | understand put
originally hled from farm upstate AT
any rate. his manners bark back 10 the
DAYS when his farmer forebeaTs came In
from the plough. combed their hair at the
sink and inquired OF their women folk
when dinner would be ready"
FORTUNATELY, TO Offset memories OF Joe,
I can reflect upon Jack. ! happen 10 kno"
that Jacks mother Is rather an exquisite
woman. and that his father Is a successful
man and has been able TO keep servants
SO that the mental details Of housework
have not devoved upon the women OF the
family. ! wonder II that is why Jack was
always so considerable Of his ho5tcsses ana
mlndf.l tLat we were camping out, under
conditions that made housework doubly
hard | remember that he insisted on re-
filling all the bedroom pitchers. ] remember
with gratitude how he cleaned the fish and
insisted upon helping wipe the dinner
dishes. so that we might all get down early
to the beach, IN short. | remember that
during every hour of his short stay with
us he was not only willing. but apparently
anxious To assist his hostesses In every
way possible lie was TOO secure in his
own sense OF manhood TO reflect upon
whether It was mans work or woman 5
work that called him; sufficient TO say. II |
was work which deyolvcd upon his hostess |
&c. and which he could tighten.
Perhaps this sort OF thing is too insig |
n!fcant TO judge by. but | feel could love |
Jacks mother for the way she brought her
feel that they arc very well worth while"