MANNERS IN THE FAMILY CIRCLE

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1714, 4 January 1905, Page 28

MANNERS IN THE FAMILY CIRCLE

Why is the code of civility so often disregarded between husband and Avifef "Familiarity breeds contempt," some one says, but that hardly covers the question. The feeling betAveen persons av.lio are grossly uncivil to one another is not seldom one of deep and true affection and respect. If anyone else A\ 7 ere to speak to either of them as they do to one another they would resent it exceedingly. Tlie explanation is simply that they have got into the habit of feeling that they can say anything they like to one another AA'ithout ever exercising any selfrestraint.

But it is a mistake, and particularly is it. a mistake before onlookers. Onlookers very often, contrary to the pro-verb, do not see most of the game. They see only a email portion of rf. and are apt to judge the rest accordingly. They see a man rude to his wife, and, knowing nothing of the real underlying affection, take it for granted' that they are on bad terms.

Besides, one must think of the children. They are naturally little mimics, and if they hear father and mother speaking unpleasantly to one another they speedily copy them. It therefore behoves us to take heed to our wavs. Good manners in the family circle is the oil that makes the domestic machine run smoothly.