CHIVALRY IN THE HOME

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 129, 3 June 1922, Page 14

CHIVALRY IN THE HOME

(By M.A.C.)

"There is a great deal of talk about chivalry, or the lack of it, in the streets, ballrooms, tramcars, etc," said one woman to another recently, "but I wish someone would bring before parents the

lack of chivalry in the homes." The observer had thought for a long time that the true chivalry must be taught at home, and to both boys and girls, so that when they were older they • were pleasant denizens of the world and not disagreeable people continually grabbing for their "rights," and overlooking all claims of others. Parents, by being courteous to their children and not expecting well-mannered young people to grow up out of children who have been snubbed or coarsely and rudely spoken to, could do a great deal, and could follow it up by demanding the courtesies of life in the way of service from every child. Who is' not acquainted with homes where ' 'mother' 'is seen chopping wood and cleaning windows in small homes, and in more wealthy ones is answered rudely and.ignored in her own home where she should be the honoured mistress?' Then the courtesies of brothers and sisters to each other are so frequently lacking. Sisters often do housework and sewing in which brothers, benefit; but when fuel is Wanting, teatrays to be carried, doors opened, and escorts needed, where are the brothers oftentimes?

Then these people, young and old, go out into ballrooms; ha guests in other people's houses; or into the world at large, a selfish disregard of the comfort and convenience of others is apparent. The cry of "ill-manners" is raised, and few stop to think that perhaps they »re> simply rude children of rude people. As soon as they come to years of discveiiou it is "up to" «very young man and woman to give a thought to this matter, and to cultivate for themselves a courtesy, which is so .beautiful and rare an ornament. The fault lies with themselves ii the" do not l Girls and women are greatly to blame when they neglect appreciation of courtesies—and it is lamentable how often, they do— especially in public conveyances. Again in the homes the same thing is noticeable. A man who had been brought up to give little courtesies to all with whom he came in contact was made to look , foolish in a roomful of guests, as when he opened the door for a girl friend to go out, she looked mockingly at him and remarked: "Don't kick yourself, old bean !" A "right" which has always been given to women by men is the right to keep the world sweet and beautiful, and though it is a burden that needs sharing and dividing evenly between the sexes—it is to be hoped that women will do their best, even though they often get small encouragement or appreciations. Above - • all, when life proves successful, let them not fall into ,the error which was pictured in a Lons don paper, the text under a most suggestive sketch being: "I'm not rude; I'm rich!"