Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-07-12

r1AsHlNGTON, D. c., July 6.-"Are
wv courtesies between human beings to
W be entirely discarded?" asks one of
our readers. "GrOWn people now are 1nfor-
NAL to the point of rudeness, and children
are taught no manners at home. Is the next
generation to grow up altogether au naturel?'
This is an oft-heard lament. 1t is unde-
niably true that the average mother no longer
sets aside part of the day to instruct the
children in the gentle art of entering par
lor. The parlor, we are told is on the road
to extinction. And with it is going the at
mosphere Of scraping and bowling which once
distinguished high society from the gather
ings of the hoi polloi.
How to enter a room pleasingly and the
kindred formalites are lost arts, perhaps We
scarcely expect to find them in thes modern
home. They were outgrowths of court life
founded on The caste system and on the fear
of those in power. The pesantry had little
to do with tiquette, except that it was sup
posed to show Difference to those who called
themselves its betters. The mobiles, higher
in the social scale, had a right to wa them
selves up within certain barriers of formality
And at the top, the king was SO aloof per-
sonage that the most elaborate ceremony pos
sible preceded, accompanied, and followed
everything lie did from putting on his clothes
to receiving a gift. That kind OF formal ETH
quette has died out in this country, and 1t
has few mourners.
But if what is known as common courtesy
is on the ne there is more cause for worry
The courtesy that makes the people with
whom we come in contact comfortable, and
that keeps us from beinL unpleasant or Often
sive to them is vital factor of civilization.
What Constitutes Manners
Personal cleanliness, good table manners
a pleasing tone of voice, just consideration
for the rights of others, tact in dealing with
people, are a few of the points of garden va
riety etiquette which lubricate the machinery
of everyday existence. These are the things
we believe, which people are really thinking
of when they talk of the decline of manners
Some of them-cleanliness and table man
ners especially-are undoubtedly stressed to-
day more than il the past. The dandy -four
ishing his plumed hat at the approach or
lady thought nothing of eating with his knife
or his fingers, and wiping his hands after
ward on the tableclOth Our table manners
are not always punctilious, but the tendency
seems to be toward regard for the proprieties
of eating.
AS for cleanliness, that is becoming slo-
gan. In this century, society folk do not find
it necessary to wear powerful perfumes to
conceal the need for bath. The working
man has no fear Of catching cold by exposing
his body to water. Even immigrants from
countries were clothing is seWed on in thick
layers and remains intact for months, are
rapidly learning through their children in the
schools that cleanliness is desirable.
But if the average citizen has progressed
beyond the stage where he gargles his soup
and sees no sense in brushing his teeth, he is
not always so enlightened in other matters
of common courtesy. He would not think of
affronting a friend by visiting him with
soiIed collar on, but he will affrOnt him by
talking in a shrill or resounding voice which
assaults the ear drums of those close to him
He would not say in the ,ddle of a CONVEX
saton, Here, you don't know as much about
this as | do. Let me talk" But he gives
the selfsame impression by frequently inter-
rupting in the middle of a sentence to explain
his own valuable thoughts on a subject
There is a type of modern man who seems
to feel that brusqueness, even rudeness,
is an outward sign of heart of gold. Other
business men have cultivated abrupt,
snappy mannti with the idea that it is a sign
of efficiency. An office is no place for tea
drinking manners, they will tell you.
But the pendulum is swinging back. The
business men. magazines that preach eftl-
cheney i'll all it's obvious and subtle phases,
are constantly printing articles by successful
men showing how courtesy is a business asset
Some firms will employ only persons who
show signs of tact and courtesy during an in
terview. A few employment mana err go so
far as to set traps for the applicant to see If
he knows what to do in a social emergency.
Courses in Courtesy
Employees in large stores and telephone ex-
changes are given courses in the courtesy due
to people with whom they must talk. If it
were possible there might logically be cour-