Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 February 1884 — Public Politeness. [ARTICLE]

Public Politeness.

I was coming up town, and - fcered tha Btage in which five elegantly . -ssed and fine-looking women were sitl. 'on each side of it. They might be th lady patronesses of soma society. There was room for another person on each side, but not one of those women moved to make room for me, and I rode a mile or more, while these ten women—l do not say ladies—declined to give me a seat, as they could have done any moment without rising or crowding. The most of them were probably mothers. But as the instinct of mannerti—that is, of politeness, which is simply the law of kindness—wag not in the breast of one of the ten, what is to be expected of their children ? They capnot teach what they do not know, and, as they know nothing of politeness, their children will be boors.

Going to the omnibus again for a sample of manner*, I opened the door to step in, the other day, when a boy took advantage of my holding it open, jumped in and took the only vacant seat, tickled that he got the start of me and got the seat. This was young America all over. The great Athenian philosopher said that democracy has the fohndation in the principle that one man is as good as another, if not a little better. And many wise men have insisted that popular goverment tends to destroy reverence for superiors and deference to others, which are essential elements of refined manners. “In honor preferring one another,” is the inspired religion of politeness. It is not one of the highest virtues. It may be where there is no virtue. And I do, not say the politest nations are the strongest, nor that it is impossible to get money, and power, and all that, with the manners of a pig. The very trait of character which the “jpntleman who pays the rint ” exhibits when he puts his foot into the trough to keep others away while he eats, is the trait of many who succeed in getting much money. But there is a better way. And it is the way that has few walking in it, in this day of ours.