Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 December 1880 — Girl’s Manners. [ARTICLE]

Girl’s Manners.

If our little girls greet their brothers and sisters,and perhaps even their parents boisterously; if, instead of “Good morning,” they cry, “Halloo, papa! Halloo mamma!” and call to playmates in the street in the same rough manner, who will be surprised if this style follows them as they grow up and appear as young ladies? Referring to this unlady-like manner and mode of address, a gentleman writes that, passing two pretty, well-dressed stylish young ladies in the public street, he was surprised to hear the one meet the other with “Halloo, Sid!” and her friend respond, “Halloo, Tude!” to her friend’s greeting; and he remarks:

“It was just what two lounging young men might have said, or stable boys, for that matter. It might not have been so much out of the way for the latter, but I confess it sounded very odd and offensive in what I sup]>osed to be two well-bred young ladles; as much so as if I had heard two beautiful, gray and rose-colored biids begin to swear. It was so unnatural, so out of place. It may be the style for young girls or ladies to greet each other with a ‘Halloo ! r but I can’t like or get used to it. These things may seem but a trifle, but they make all the difference between nioe things and very common things. We usually prefer sweet, gentle, refined girls to those who are coarse and hoydenish. Girls may fall into this free-and-easy, unlady-like habit through their brothers’ example; but sisters were given to refine and soften thf coarser nature of their brothers. If they do not do this, we shall no longer find In our sisters refined and refining companions, but the coarse ways and rough speech of young men in flounces. Is it not just as easy to imitate the graceful manner and refined speech of a lady as those of a rude, uncultivated boy? The same general rules for correct and pleasant behavior are safe for boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen. A gentleman may entertain the highest respect for a lady, and Ik; on the most friendly and Intimate terms, but, if a true gentleman, his respect will withhold him from carelessness or roughness*in speech or action. And no lady who is truly refined will brook anything approaching a too familiar tone. It is. however, but Just to acknowledge that a lady’s manners will always fix metes and bounds of the liberty which may be offered. When boys and girls, young men and maidens are allowea to fall into the absurdities of low, foolish, meaningless talk, it seems to dwarf them intellectually, they can find nothing of interest or importance to say, and therefore make up for sense by filling every sentence with-need less exclamations, exaggerations or misused adjectives.

Reinach, who was challenged by Rochefort, is (iambetta'a secretary. Queen Victoria takes great interest in agricultural l mplementa, and recently left her carriage to walk into a field where a new reaper and binder was being tested, to observe its operation.