El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-07-22

when you have not the slightest de-
sire to do so.
Etiquette forces you to listen 90
winded stories Of others
Etiquette forces YOU to do that
which you do not desire TO do, and
10 leave undone that which you wish
TO do
\ Rule of the Game.
What is the good OF etiquette
Etiquette is simply one of the rules
Of the game When human beings
rose above beasts who were continu-
cided TO live together in peace and
harmony. they found out that they
would have 10 agree upon certain
things that they could do. and couldn't
do, and that everyone must respect
these unwritteu laws because II made
things pleasanter for everybody
out OF this grew what We call the
conventions Of society and etiquette.
and foolish and arbitrary as they
sometimes seem. they invariably rest
upon some human need and represent
the accumulated experience Of cen
lures OF mans dealing with man, and
TIE best way 10 do it
Moreover. etiquette is nothing more
nor less than the Golden Rule dressed
" IN party clothes and with a flower
IN its buttonhole- 1t teaches Us 10
ueat others as we would like TO have
others treat Us II makes Us respect
other peoples privacy and opinions
and be careful OF their susceptibfIitfes
as we would like 10 have them respect
ours.
You can have no better illustration
OF the happy working out Of etiquette
than in the very instances cited by my
correspondent He asks scornfuIlv
why ne should appear to sympathizs
with the joys and sOrrOws Of people
Tor whom he cares nothing
Doubtless this man never takes the
trouble 10 write a note of coincidence
q there a in h -
some acquaintance. or telephone A
congrafulat1on when some good luck
comes the way of a neighbor
YET how would he feel if. when he
entered room, nobody greeted him
with pleasant and cordial word be
cause no one happened to be vitality
interested IN him. Would he not be
cut TO the heart II his wife or child
lay dead and no human being spoke
n word of sympathy to him. Would .
not the happiness Of his success be
dlinneo II not a man put out a hand =
and said Good for YOU old chan
I'm awfully glad for your"
4 Good Thing for all OF Is
Ny correspondent says that etiquette
forces US 10 listen with an affccta-
uon or interest 10 tedious converSa-
uonalists, and laugh over jokes that
We cut our teeth on in our cradles
Let US thank heaven that II does Pre-
clous few of US are such spelIbinderS
that We can hold an audience on the
AtA IT AilHiN THEl4llnEUeSS or our rrSc0uTSe.
TOT are We brilliant enough humorists
70 provoke with our wit the ready
Iaggh that etiquette hands US
let which one Of Us would enjoy
listener who frankly yawned when
ne was bored. or felt called upon to
tell US that he had heard our cherished J
best story million times before3
And If etiquette prevents US from
enjoying the sacred joy OF telling a
man that he lies. or a woman that
the least observing eye can see that
she is ten years older than she pre-
tends 10 he. and that anybody can tell
that her complexion and her hair are
only hers by right Of purchase is il not
as broad as il is Ions. for IL keeps
other people from saying the same .
brutal things 10 us2 >
As for etiquette being the mother
Of insincerity. that is nonsense There
is more TO praise than 10 blame more
TO admire than to criticize. more to
like than to hate in the world Whv
is 1t not as honest TO speak OF a
good qualities as his bad
qualities
Why isn't it as sincere to turn
CHEEKY. bright face upon the people
Al your breakfast table and in vou-
office as IL is to crouch in gloou17
And as for sympa thizinS with the Joys
and SORROWS Of those about US. even
II we don know them very well and
are not particularly attached to then,T
surely that is Just the throb of com
mon humanity that makes US all
KIN
At its worst. etiquette is merely as
suminG the virtue of consideration OF
others by those who have il not. and
that is better than the brutality Of
the savage, who goes his own way IN
mindful OF the rights Of others
When We all get 10 be angels. al
truistically intent on promoting each
others happiness. We can do withOutA
etiquette; but until that time arrives.
blessed be good manners that make il
bad form for us TO stop on each others
toes and do and say things we are
prompted to do