Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 February 1879 — A Test of Good Breeding. [ARTICLE]

A Test of Good Breeding.

One of the sure tests of good breeding is a thoughtful regard to the convenience of others in a crowd. An illbred man or woman will stop in a church aisle to talk to a neighbor, at the close of the service, without stepSing aside to allow those who are beind to pass on unhindered. And the same fault will be shown in blocking the passage-way of a railroad car, while gathering up luggage from the seat, on arriving at a station: or in standing in the doorway of a public hall, or a place of business; or in taking more than one’s share in a streetcar, or on the sidewalk, or at a streetcrossing, or in an exhibition hall, or at a ticket office. A person of true refinement and of really good breeding will always have others in mind while with others. The average refinement in any crowd or gathering of people is plainly marked by the ease with which all get along together. Twenty persons of good breeding can find comfortable sitting or standing room in a car, or hall, or street, ana be good-natured all the time, when ten ill-bred persons would be jostling each other ill-natur-edly. And this is more than a matter of good breeding. y lt involves a regard for the rights as well as the comfort of others. It is selfishness which makes one willing to block a passage-way for one’s own convenience, when others want to move on. It is dishonesty which leads one to take more than his or her share of time or space while others are waiting lor their turn, or are wanting their place. Whoever would be counted well-bred or refined, ought to have this truth always in mind; so ought all those who would bo and do right. Children ought to be trained to a proper course in this regard. They and their parents ought to learn to keep out of other people’s way, when other people are entitled to the way.— S. S.