Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-07-09
The Decline
of Manners
BY Frederic ]. Haskin

BY Frederic j. Haskin
washington, July a.--"Are courtes-
les between human beings to be en-
tirely discarsicd?" asks one of our
readers. Grown people now are In
formal to the point OF rudeness. and
children are taught no manners at
home. Is the next generation to grow
up altogether au naturei2"
This is an oft heard lament. IL is
undeniably true that the average
mother no longer sets aside a part of
the day to instruct the children In the
gentle art OF entering a parior. The
psrlor, we are told. lis on the road to
extinction. And with 1t is going the
atmosphere of scraping and bowling
which once distinguished high society
from the gatherings of the hoi poiloi.
How TO enter a room pleasingly and
the kindred forTnalities are lost arts,
perhaps, We scarcely expect TO find
them in the modern home, They were
outgrowth of court life founded on the
caste system and on the fear of those
in power. The peasantry had little to
do with etiquette, except that IT was
supposed TO show Difference to those
who called themselves its bctters. The
mobiles, higher in the social scale. had
A right TO wall themselves up within
certain barriers of formality. And. at
the top, the king was SO aloof a per
sonage that the most elaborate cere-
mony possible preceded, accompanied,
and followed everything he did from
putting on his clothes to receiving
a gift. That kind OF formal etiquette
...xI .
has few mourners.
But IL what is known as common
courtesy is on the wane there is more
cause for worry. The courtesy that
makes the people with whom we come
in contact comfortable, and that keeps
us from being unpleasant or offensive
to them is a vital factor of civiliza-
ton.
What Constitutes Manners.
Personal cleanliness. good table
manners. pleasing tone of voice, just
consideration for the rights of others.
tact in dealing with people. are few
of the points of garden variety eti-
quette 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
manners, especially are undoubtedly
stressed today more than in the past.
The dandy dourishing his plumed
hat at the approach of lady thought
nothing of eating with his knife or
his fingers, and wiping his hands aft
erward on the tablecloth. Our table
manners are not always punctilious,
but the tendency seems to be toward
greater regard for the proprieties of
eating.
AS for clea nliness, that is becoming
a slogan. In this century, society folk
do not find it necessary to wear power
full perfumes to conceal the need for a
bath. The working man has no fear
of catching cold by exposing his body
to water. Even immigrants from
countries where clothing is sewed on
in thick layers, and remains intact for
months. are rapidly learning through
their children in the schools that
clea nliness is desirable.
But if the average citizen has pro-
gressed beyond the stage where he
gargles his soup and sees no sense
in brushing his teeth, he is not always
common courtesy. He would not think
of affronting friend by visiting him
with a soiled collar on, but he will af-
front him by talking in a shrill or re-
sounding voice which assaults the ear
drums of those close to him. He would
not say in the middle of a conversa-
ton. Here, you don't know as much
about this as j do. Let me talk" But
he gives the selfsame impression by
frequently interrupting in the middle
of sentence to explain his own valu-
able thoughts on subject.
There is type OF modern man who
seems to feel that brusqueness, or
even rudeness, is an outward sign of
heart of gold. Other business men
have cultivated an abrupt. snappy
manner with the idea that it is a sign
of efficiency. An office is no place for
teadrinking manners, they will tell
you.
But the pendulum is swinging back.
The business mems magazines that
preach efficiency in all its 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 interview A few employment
managers go so far as to set traps for
tho applicant 10 see If he knows what
to do in a social emergency.
Courses In Courtesy.
Employees in large stores and tele-s
rhone exchanges are given courses
Continued on page s.