NATIONAL MANNERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 169, 18 July 1924, Page 7

NATIONAL MANNERS.

ENGLISH CROWDS. SUGGESTED INSTRUCTION. England ia "at home" to all the world. The King and Queen of Roumania have just concluded a State visit. The South African cricketers are forming impressions of English folk all over j the country. America and the Dominions are sending their millions to Wembley. When we were small children, and our parents expected visitors, we were warned to be on our best behaviour. At meal times we had to see that I our hands were clean and our hair nicely brushed; there must be no scrambling, scuffling, and fighting in passages or on stairs; we must open the door for women, speak politely to men, and never forget to pass the mustard. It would be no bad thing, in my opinion, if the nation were put through a little drill. To tell the truth, we are not very good at watching processions. We forget that the great folk in the carriages are looking at us just as keenly a3 we are staring at them. Some of us may raise our hats, but '■ by no means all. Some of us may cheer, but rather feebly and selfconsciously. It is not that we mean jto be cold and inhospitable and un- | friendly, but simply that wo do not act in unison. Wo leave it to the man on the right to cheer, and to the man on the left to raiec his hat. For our part, we are content to make gaping caverns of our mouths and oval mirrors of our eyes. Not Best Behaviour. This is not our best behaviour, and wo ought to improve. There should be rehearsals before any sort of State function. The public would be lined up on each side of the dummy route, and carriages containing understudies of the actual processionists ■would proceed at a slow pace through the lines. A man with a megaphone would precede the procession, giving instructions. You would have to appoint sectionleaders, distinguished by rosettes, who would be stationed at every ten yards through the streets, to start the hatwaving and cheering and pleasant smiles of welcome. The crowds would gladly follow. All that it wants is a lead, and soon the English would become the most enthusiastic and inspiring multitude in the world. Kings, queens, etc., would vie with each other to visit England and parade the streets of her cities. Our popularity abroad would increase a hundredfold. For, you see, in this sort of thing the Great Ones cannot give hints. They would never like to be thought dissatisfied. Yet strangers cannot read the hidden heart. No Rehearsal Necessary. Coming to cricketers, the enormous number of people who attend cricket matches have a splendid opportunity of enhancing the prestige of Old England. These South Africans will go back to their homes, and they will talk. They will give faithful impressions of England and the English as they found them. No rehearsal should be necessary here, for we have always been a sporting nation, and a good sportsman must be a gentleman. He cannot help it. To treat an opponent with courtesy and generosity, no matter how keen the contest, is the essence of good sportsmanship. And the man who can do that needs no instruction in good manners. Some patrons of sport are inclined to think that a crowd has no responsibility. This is nonsense. Each man who forms part of a crowd is that crowd. If one cad bawling an insult at a batsman stamps a crowd, so does one man generously applauding a fine piece of work on the part of an opponent. But, most of all, we are judged by our behaviour as individuals to individuals. Tears age, in America, from east to west, I .found everybody anxious to help, to advi6e, and to make one's visit pleasant. America is jealous of .her reputation for good manners and hospitality. They want visitors to carry away a good impression. What of English hospitality? Can we afford to be careless? (says Keble Howard in "London Opinion"). However, this is developing into a lecture. Cheerio, gentles all! i An application was made by Nellie Clarke (Mr. Schramm) to Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., to-day for separation from her husband, William R. Clarke (Mr. Brown), and for maintenance and guardianship of their two children. She alleged persistent cruelty and insufficient maintenance as the grounda of her application, and gave evidence of having been "knocked about" repeatedly by the husband, and of having to feed and clothe the children on an insufficient allowance. Among other things, she stated that the children were never allowed any milk. She said she and her husband had separated previously in the course of their eleven yeara ot married life, but had come "together I again. After having heard the husband. I who said he earned £7 a week, the magistrate granted the application, aud made an order against the husband foi the payment of £4 per week.