The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-04-17
Sci FLSHNESS AND MANNERS.

ANY attempt to teach good manners oy
rule and precept without impresslng upon
the character principles of right and kind
illness must necessarily fail, or result In
mere imitation of the manners that one
seeks to produce. Some precepts and rules
are required because society is artificial IN
its construction and the best of men may
not know how to conduct themselves ac-
cording to the rules laid down by custom.
They will not 60 very far wrong, how
ever, if they are actuated by right senti-
ments and right principles. Men who are
truly considerfite and polite, though they
lack the graces of cultivated society, are
sometimes called rough diamonds, and
the title gives exact expression to their
good qualities and their faults. They
have within them the qualities which by
little polish would make them shine. They
are Just, kindly and considerate, and there
fore are deserving of more respect than
men with better outward show OF good
manners who lack these essential qualities.
They may not uncover in the presence OF
ladies'; they may do many boorish things
repugnant to polite people, but II they
show disposition to be just, demanding
no more than they are willing to accord to
others; if they are kindly, seeking to help
those who are weaker than themselves, as
women, children and old people; if they are
considerate and exhibit fine sense OF the
feelings of other people, they can easily
be taught the simple forms by which socie-
ty tries to express these qualities of the
mind. 1t is not enough to teach the rules
of polite society; when they are observed
they give US nothing more than symbols,
the meaning of which should be under
%bo Of rnlito
society governing the conduct OF men to-
ward women are symboiical representa-
tons Of the customs and deeds OF the days
of chivalry. There is now no occasion for
any one to put lance in rest to rescue un-
happy maidens from the grasp of tyrant,
but the chivalric feeling should survive,
leading every true man to respect women
and to protect them from the minor ills
that may beset them. 1t is perhaps bet
ter to be polite and well-manner as a
mere matter of form than not to be polite
at all, but it is better still to be polite be-
cause one is inspired by chivalric sent-
ment and the disposition to be considerate
and kindly. The boorish man who is rem
dered impolite by his selfish nature, can
not be made agreeable even when he has
been taught by rote to behave himself
when in the company of other people. His
acquired good manners will disappear
when he is put to real test such as he
will meet when his own desires come ir
conflict with the desires of other people
Put him in crowd, he will elbow his way
to the front without regard to the equa
rights of other people. He may be able tc
behave himself according to the custom:
of society when dining at leisure with {
small company, but if his good manners
have been acquired as matter of form
having no substantial basis in character
he will exhibit his boorishness when in
vited to hurried lunch with great mum
Der of companions. Sometimes the boor
will not yield precedence to ladies, though
the force of custom is such that even selfisi
men are obliged to respect it on all or
binary occasions. But their true mature
reveals itself when they are called upoI
to make substantial sacrifices for the SAX
of sentiment. Little can be done for tn
correction of these habits in men of ma
ture years. Their manners, good or bad
have been formed and cannot be readil,
changed. But care should be taken wit
the young that they may not only acquir
good manners, but such character as t
sustain them in the exhibition of polite
ness under all circumstances. They shoul
be taught the substantial reasons that un
derlie every rule of conduct in polite so
ciety; they should be inspired with desir
to be just and consderate, and should b
encouraged to control the selfish DISPOSE
ton which to a greater or less extent gov
ems the conduct of the best of men an
women. When thus taught and traine
their good manners will be proof agains
the greatest temptation, that which assail
them when they find themselves in a crow
whose members have common purpos
before them.
There has been something crude an
heartless and unfeeling in our haste to sue