Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1925-11-13
Civility and
Servility-

Only the vulgar are rude.
Some European writer's have
charged Americans with being
the most impolite of all nations.
Whether that be true or no,
doesn't matter particularly, but
it does matter that each of US as
as individuals meet courtesy with
courtesy.
Meeting for the first time an
eminent statesman, a young man
on being introduced, removed his
hat, then extended his hand.
The elderly gentleman promptly
removed his hat, then grasped the
hand of the young man in a hearty
shake. No man can be more
polite than me, said the states
man as he bowed slightly over
the hand of the STRIPPING,
That's meeting courtesy with
courtesy.
There some argument going
around literary circles regarding
the formation of an American
Thank You League" of which
Roy Crandall of New York is the
secretary. Many prominent men
have been invited to join the
league. With some it has met
with favor, others view such a
body from the opposite angle.
Ellis Parker Butler, president
of the American Authors League,
who gave the world one of its
greatest laughs with his Pigs Is
Pigs" became member of the
Thank You League with this
comment:
Il amt no clerk in any store,
And amt no waiter, thank you! /
But if you say I amt polite
By gosh, I'll come and spank you"
David Warfield, beloved by
millions who have seen him in
The Music Master" and The
Auctioneer, says:
"Thank you is easy to say, costs,
nothing and means much"
Gilbert Patten, whose Frank
Merrill stories have thrilled mil
lions of boys, remarks: |
'My boy hero always said
THANK YOU and he was and is
one of the best boys ever put on
paper"
E. M. Statler, the head of a
chain of famous hotels, knows
what politeness and a kind word !
means to the modren business
man. He says:
81 like the words THANK YOU !
because they slip off the tongue
more easily than a growl, but
greater reason is that they please
people better (than a grow) and
I happen to be in the business of
pleasing people"
We have quoted these artists,
authors and business men because
each comes in contact with large
numbers of people and each is
dependent on the opinion of the
public for his success. Certainly
such men as these can speak with
authority. If it is good bust
ness for them to be courteous,
how much more necessary is it
for our youth 10 remember that
only the vulgar are rude.
One of the greatest faults of
youth is thoughtlessness. Youth
often is rude because youth fail
ed to remember. Teaching our
boys and girls to be courteous, to
say thank you, is simply coaching
the mind; training youth, as it
were, for the sterner battles of
life.
We have known young fellows
who were practically worthless
they were lazy and devoid of am
bition, but because of uniform
courtesy to others, were loved
and respected by many of their
elders. On the other hand there
are others who, possessing more
than the average share of talents,
were unpopular, often despised
because of the rudeness or the
failure to respect the feelings and
prerogatives of others.
One c1u!d scarcel y write on this
subject without recalling the old
Ante-BelIum Southern gentleman,
who has been made famous in
song and story. To his bitterest
enemy he was kind and courteous
with his women folk he was ey 81
the Chesterfield, kind of mannel
and soft of speech. To him the
most despisable cad was he whC
failed to remember there's {
lday present. He was cava
lier, brave and courageous, un
der all circumstances. never for
getting Il am a Southern gentle
man. Even in his cups, unbane
polite and refined. From tn,