The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-01-21
A Practical Suggestion for President Butte

"A IdCClCdl OuSScSLIOn Tor HreSlQenC Butler
President Nicholas Murray Butler complains that
American youth-and many American eders-have
lost their manners. In his annual report he writes:
That there has been for some years past steady
decline in the practice of good manners is unhappy
ndisputabe. Distinction and correctness of speech,
of appearance and of no longer are esteemed
as they WERE Whatever the cause may be- their
results deplorable and there is need of constant
and strong emphasis on those personal habits which
manifest themselves in good manners"
With startling coincidence, the same papers which
carried Dr. Buffers be at the etiquet of our young
folk also printed the reassuring that the Uni
versity of Oklahoma just has announced course on
How to Carve at the Table" Here is challenge to
Dr. Butler. He complains in eloquent phrases about
the defects in the manners of our young people,
Will he do something more than talk? Will he take
practical step institute similar course in cary
ing in Columbia university and make it requirement.
for the bachelor of arts degree?
He has some thousands of youngsters under his
dominion. If he will do nothing practical to improve
the manners of his own students, how can he COM
plain appropriately about the manner of American
youth in general?
This course in carving at Oklahoma doubtless will
afford an excuse for much arrogant bantering hy
highbrow educational wise-crackers But little real
If education is to be a preparation for life then
How to Carve at the Table" furnishes better talking
point than many, if not most of the courses in our
preSent-day respectable college curriculum.
How many men who had four years of high school
Latin followed by two or three years in college, can
read their college diplomas today? The famous bridge
engineer, j. A. L. Waddell entitled his classic
treatise on bridges de Pontibus" Asked to explain
this strange procedure he stated that he had taken
eight years of Latin in his educational career
In long and busy life, he had the slightest
occasion to use any of it, So, in sheer desperation
he resolved to drag it in before he died.
AS over against the fact that perhaps once in
lifetime we might humiliate poor lowbrow by
Chaucerian philology have to face the fact that
on seven nights out of every week and about one
Sunday out of every two we are faced with the
stark responsibility of carving, serving or both
And this is responsibility to be taken lightly
Much hangs upon it, 1t is the corner stone of the
esheticS of the dining ROOM The best of furnishings
and silver are set at naught by frightfuy haggled
fowl or roast.
Domestic felicity may be disrupted by the hus-
bands indignation that the carving has not been
done in the Kitchen or by the wifes annoyance and
contempt at her spouse's awkward butchery Chill
dren may develop contempt for their Woodworking
and worthy parent if he falls down badly before so
seemingly simple feat of manual dexterity.
Further. gastronomic efficiency and good digestion
lnSeparaby are involved Our physiological chemists
tell us that gastric juices to flow when condi
lions provoking annoyance anger and gloom are pres
ent.
VIGOROUSLY bad job of carving may leave an
otherwise excellent meal soggy and undgested mass
In the stomachs of the whole family circle.
1t would be strongly pedantic old fogy who
would defend Old English or Latin Biography against
How to Carve"