National Character and Etiquette.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 931, 3 January 1890, Page 4

National Character and Etiquette.

Women may well take thought that the honour and responsibility rest with them of initiating ideas of chivalry and courtesy in their children which will grow with their growth, and find expression in an easy dignity of dmieanour that no artificial manners can approach. There is no mistaking the differ-, ence between a lifelong habit and a hastily adopted trick, for it is true of all developments of national resources—call them 1 art,’ ‘character,’ ‘conduct,’ or what you will;— the best ia always the simplest, and that same simplicity is not arrived at in a hurry. There are people in the world whose manners, one feels, would not hold out if any strain were put upon thoir temper : and others, again, who make shift to do without any, like the old lady who ‘ never learnt grammar, .and never felt the want of none.’ So much the worse for them, and the unfortunate persons with whom they come into collision. Who can deny that the world would be a pleasanter place if boys and girls were better prepared for self-control aud kindly thought for others ? Reverence for age—a noble tribute scrupulously paid by the philosophers of Greece aud Rome, and inculcated in Scripture as a religious duty—was formerly more demonstrated in England than it is now. In this respect we compare unfavourably with France and Germany, whore parents and grandparents are approached with an amou t of veneration that might almost make ;v a ashamed. Aged women in the East ba*e control of the household, and enjoy important trusts, as in'the case, recently brought uud er our notice, of the Shah’s aunt, who keeps the Court jewels. Oddly enough, there is in Persia one of the mo3t selfish of salutation's, and one that is generally understood ianu entirely opposite sense. * May your shadow never grow less ’ sounds as if it might mean, ‘May your strength and stature continue undimiuißhed so long as life lasts,’ but really signifies, 'May your (protecting) shadow never be less (extended to me).’ We may dismiss the subject of preliminary greetings with the grave ancient Eastern greeting and response, ‘Peace be with you,’ ‘And with you peace,’ which, though it sounds formal, cannot from its very stateliness become so mechanical as the English * How d’ye do ?’ to which nobody listens.—Woman’s World.