COMPANY MANNERS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3137, 2 October 1922, Page 2

COMPANY MANNERS.

(By Robert Erstone Forbes). Ron]'courtesy is one of those habits of mind which'do more than anything efse to make the world "brighter." Yet the false variety is not very rare. ...

T like to think that the classic instance of this false courtesy conies to ns from Louis XIV. of France, that most magnificent of monarch who, on one occasion, is reported to have stood aside, on a staircase to allow a humble old washer-woman to pass by. T do not believe for one moment that haughty Louis acted naturally. He stood aside, it seems to me, in order that it might be said that he had stood aside. It was only one more act of snobbish vanity. Louis' every action would be discussed far and wide, and I am convinced that he saw in this small incident no more than a means to enhance his own popularity.

This is not lo say that an act of this kind performed in public must necessarily he snobbish or vain. Sometimes it is splendidly fine. I recall the story of the great peer who was presiding at a luncheon given to tho farmers on one of his estates. One of the old fellows, seeing a howl of custard in front of him, mistook it for a new kind of sauce, and added a spoonful or two to Ins plato of roast beef. Whereat there was much scornful laughter from those sitting near him who prided themselves on their superior knowledge. Jiut the peer had seen the old man's confusion, and asked for the custard. "Very good with roast beef. I always think"" said he. and helped himself liberally.. To-day, however, I find that there are numbers of men eager to exhibit their good manners, but only if somebody is there to see. A man' may give up his seat to a, lady in a crowded l 'train, but the act is not a.lways one of true courtesy. As often as not he will glance in a meaning way at such other men m the carriage as have retained seats, and feel pleasantly superior to them. And how often it happens that <he lady to whom his seat has boon given is young and pretty! More often, I suspect, it is a masculine tribute to feminine beauty than real courtesy. Hut it is in a man's own home that the real test occurs. .Many men seem to think that nothing much matters at home. There they can behave as they please, unless it happens that guests are present, No need to open the door for your mother or wife, or run ernuids for'them to the top of the house, or put on vour best clothes, or be punctual at meals. AVhv worry:- 1 They have no need of vour "company manners."

"Company manners!" Yes, that is the explanation of this false courtesy. It is the acme of snobbery to think that you should have a different code of manners in the larger world from the one which suffices you at home. The man who indulges in "company manners" has yet to learn what true courtesy means.