THE DECADENCE OF MANNERS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10816, 5 December 1902, Page 4

THE DECADENCE OF MANNERS.

A writer in a recent issue of the Lyttelton Times has a little to say on a subject that should interest us all. Hia^ remarks on "The Decadence of Manners," we fear, have $ very general application, and the rising generation should see to it that- the faults* of their fathers will not be inherited by their sons. The writer in question says: — It has been said that in the past .politeness was often only on the surface with many, and that even "the first gentleman in Europe". (George IV.) was essentially a boor of the lowest type. Nevertheless the decadence of good manners'in social life in these days is a thing to be 'deplored, as want of courtesy detracts from the manliness' and dignity of a man and the charm and beauty of a woman. It is no proof of gentle birth or of independence of character for people to .lay asido the politeness of life, for one does not look for these things amongst the ignorant and uncultured, but only amongst those "who have moved' in refined society,' At the present time, at a -concert or entertainment',, instead' of seeing a gentleman leading a lady singer on off ,tuc stage, which used ,to be a graceful custom, we now see the lady coining -j on alone, which has by' no means a 'pretty effect. Again, a man waiks beside a woman, or drives besi le her in a dogcart, with a pipe in his mouth, probably allowing the smoke to lloat across her face. This is not a wicked tiling, to do, especially if the woman takes it as a matter of c6urse", but it is a vulgar act on his part, and he might learn a lesson f^om Rome of li is "inferiors in social position hut superiors in politeness, who one will -often see removing their pipes when passing a woman on. the side-path. Then in a woman of the present day we have something to strongly. object to. We see her, generally, 'marching into, church or a-' concert room "or" the' theatre and looking round' for 'a

'seat, while heir male companion follows"/ meekly behind and sits humbly , down in. the seat selected, for him. There is no harm in this, but it has an unpleasant effect. Again, a. woman will often composedly allow a gentleman to give up his seat- in a tram-car to which he is entitled without any acknowledgment of his politeness. I have seen a lady and gentleman well mounted riding along a suburban road and I observed with some astonishment that the lady wen*t forward and opened the gate and held it open for her companion to pass through. All these are, vulgarisms and to be deplored as a' retrod, gression in civilisation. >. We can" only hope * that some amongst us may see the' charm and excellence pf "courtesy , and practise it. t.