Pueblo chieftain., 1921-07-09
By Frederic ]. Haskin.

courtesies between human beings to
be entirely Giscarded?" asks one of
our readers. Grown people now are
informal to the point of rudeness. and
children are taught no manners at
home. Is the next generation to grow
up altogether au natIral?"
This is an oft heard lament. 1t 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 parlor.
to extinction. And with it is going
the atmosphere of scraping and bow
ing which once distinguished high So
ciety from the gatherings of the hoi
polloi.
the kindred formalities are lost arts.
perhaps. We scarcely expect to find
them in the modern home. They were
outgrowths of court life founded on the
caste system and on the fear of those
ir power. The peasantry had little to
supposed to show Difference to those
who called themselves its betters.
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
q parsonage that the most elaborate
ceremony possible preceded, accom-
panied. and followed everything he did
from putting on his clothes to re-
ceiving a gift. That kiEd of formal
etiquette has died out in this country,
and 1t has few nourners.
But II what is known as common
courtesy is on the wano there is more
cause for worry. Tho courtesy that
makes the people with whom wa 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. 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 variety eti-
uuette 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, especia1ly--sre undoubtedly
stressed today more than In the past.
The dandy flourishing his plumed hat
at the approach OF lady thought
nothing of eating with his knife or his
fingers. and wiping his hands after
ward on tho tablecloth. Our table
manners are not always punctilious,
but the tendency seems to be toward
greater regard for the rroprieties of
eating.
As for cleanliness that rs becoming a
slogan. In this century. society folk
do not md 1t necessary to wear pow
erfui perfumes to conceal the need
for a bath. Tho working man has no
fear of catching cold by exposing his
body to water. Even Immigrants from
countries where clothing Is sewed on
IT, thick layers. and remains intac. for
months. arc rapidly learning through
their children in the schools that
cleanliness Is desirable.
But II the average citizen has pro-
eresscd beyond the stage where he
gargles his soup and sees no sense IN
brushing his teeth. he is not always
so enlishtened in gthsr matters Of Of
OF afrronting a friend by visiting him
with a soilcd 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 n con-
versation, Here. you don't know as
much about this as | do. Let me
talk" But hc gives the sclf-same
impression by frequently intcrrup,inS
ir the middle OF n sentence tn explain
MS own Naluabl" thoughts on SUD
iect
There is . typo Of modern man who
seems to feel that orusauenesr. or
even rudeness. is an outward sign OF
n heart of gold. Other business men
have cultivated an abrupt. snappy
manner with the idea that 4, Is a sign
of efficiency An office is no place for
tea drinking manners, they will tell
YOU.
But tho pendulum is swinging back.
The business mems magazines that
preach efficiency in n, It's obvious and
subtle phases, are constantly printing
articles by successful men showing
how courtesy ts business ssset
Some nrms will employ only parsons
who show signs Of tact and courtesy
during an interview. few employ
mcrt managers 60 so far as to set
traps for the applicant to see II he