THE DECAY OF MANNERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15374, 8 August 1913, Page 3

THE DECAY OF MANNERS.

Sir,— Reacting in your paper that Lord Rosebery considers that manners are deteriorating in England; I could not help re- "'.' flecting tuH-if he came to Auckland he would find ample evidence of the fact that ;.;> not only , manners, but even- ordinary com- 10-.[ f mon courtesy, is singularly lacking in this city. As a recent arrival: from the South, I was considerably astonished at the way. ' ; in which the men elbow themselves into - ■ the front position when boarding, a. tramcar. Then they proceed to occupy. seats -~Twell forward in the car, and burying them- ; selves in the columns of their papers pre- . . tend that they are oblivious to the row of women strap-hangers. Apparently, they are quito comfortable, and I daresay would, be astonished if they were told that "down - , South" a vain, however old- he was, would think himself insulted if expected to keep bis seat while a woman was standing. Perhaps, as the climate here i??considered ft„. more enervating, the men are . less . virile ':" than in the - colder South. ■However, as 1 have novr become an accomplished strap- ' hanger,.'l would like to tell them that/'.", "strap-hanging" is not nearly so bad aaM-;;'? it looks, and perhaps they might try lit 4 . the next time thev see an old lady standing. ' • -.. O.L. ' : - ,•■ —■ ~ ,_■_: ■ ,- - ; ;.-*:; '.■""■" ■' ■' '■. L ■' •■.>.'■-■■:-■■:•:" ■'■■:;■':-Jyc, r^-SSSt*'!