The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1913-07-03

lVN he wrote some things of us,
on his return to England that
We're anything but flattering. Many
other distinguished visitors, since
his time, have come to see US, been
entertained more or less, and gone
home with little to tell of us that
was to our credit. And in each in
stance, the theme Of our bad man
ners has been the popular cord.
In a recent divorce case in a
Northern city, the woman who was
suing for freedom from her marital
bonds averred that she had not had
"a polite word from her husband
since the close of the honeymoon.
So-it would seem that our bad
manners have become an institu-
ton, and as individuals as we'll as a
people we are becoming noted for it.
This is not hard to prove, when one
takes notice of the habits and ac-
tons of the average American
crowd, gathered for business or
pleasure The street cars of any
city will furnish all the proof
needed; if more is wanted, go to the
theatre or even a church-to the
latter more especially if one of the
have, is about to be pulled Off. :"
One gets an idea of the average
American mob, which leaves little to
the imagination, and makes it easier
to believe that we are not so long
way from our savage ancestors.
For daily example of the bad
manners of a very large per cent of
people who are, in the main, con-
ga
telephone exchange furnishes eX-
amples as often as the phone rings
It is amazing how some otherwise
charming people will drop the
veneer of politeness, and be as
coarsely rude and vulgar as the most
commonplace. The young women
who are grouped under the head of
Central could furnish more inside
information of the people whom we
would like to have inside informa-
tion of, than any other branch of hui
mans. Perfectly proper and ladylike
young women who wish to get in
touch, via the wire. with certain
proper and desirable young men,
will snap at poor Central" until
those same young men would be
frightened into fits at the mere
thought OIL DSluS Ill 1ON6 Will dNy-
thing so viperish as the tone would
indicate.
And certain loyable young women
would recoil with horror if they
could get the tone of voice and ex-
preston of countenance of certain
men whom they think most admira-
BILE, could they hear and see those
men when they are railing at Gen
tYal' because of slow or poor tele-
lhonic connection. And there are
any number of highly respected and
philanthropic ladies who make it
practice of venting on Central the
grievances they feel against the
butcher for not sending the meat,
the grocer for sending bad eggs, and
the lady they hate for not inviting
them to the latest tea fight.
And the pity of it is-the young
children have absorbed this same
national habit Of bad manners. It
is the exception rather than tie rule,
to have middle-aged people the re-
cipient Of courtesy Of any sort from
young men and girls; the ylders are
growing accustomed to stand while
the younger members of the group
sit comfortably; they have accepted
with more or less good grace the
fashion which has made it possible
! for the younger. members to- group
!. themselves together. and leave the
4 .lers to make the most of a dreary
III Nering The IOudneGS and the