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Lessons on Manners for Home and School Use

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<hr style="width: 65%;" /> [20] <h2>Lesson III.</h2> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <div class='bbox'><h3>OUTLINE FOR BLACKBOARD.</h3> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/divider.png" width-obs="150" height-obs="9" alt="Divider" title="" /></div> <div class='center'>MANNERS ON THE STREET. ——————————</div> <div class='center'> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Notes for blackboard"> <tr><td align='left'>Why especially important. Noisy and boisterous conduct. Calling to any one across the street. Obstructing the sidewalk. Meeting and passing persons, crossing over, and taking leave. Returning salutations. Carrying an umbrella. Eating in the street. Throwing things on the sidewalk. Marking walls and fences. Looking at windows of private houses and pointing at objects. Staring at or laughing at infirmities. Answering questions. Offering assistance. Incidents. </td></tr> </table></div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <h2>LESSON III.</h2> <div class='chaptertitle'>MANNERS ON THE STREET.</div> Manners on the street are especially important, because many see us there who never see us elsewhere, and they will judge us and our home and school training by our good or bad behavior there. Noisy and boisterous conduct on the street is always unbecoming. No well-bred boy or girl will ever try to attract attention there. To make one's self conspicuous in public is a sure sign of ignorance and ill-breeding. If we wish to speak to a person on the other side of the street, though it be only a schoolmate, the proper way is not to call to him, but to cross over quietly and speak. If we wish to look behind us, we should not twist the head around, but turn the whole body. It is extremely rude to walk three or four together, unless in an unfrequented street, or to stop on corners to talk. In meeting persons, we must turn to the right, and never take more than our share of the sidewalk, and give an old person or a lady more than half. In passing people, we should be careful not to crowd or jostle them; it is better to step off the sidewalk to pass an older person than to do this. If we are walking with any one, and wish to take leave or cross the street, we should step behind and not in front of our companion. A boy should be as careful as a gentleman to give a lady the inside of the walk. When we meet an acquaintance we must not say, "Halloa!" but give or return the proper salutation. Our tone and manner should be cordial to all and respectful to older people. For a boy or girl to bestow upon a teacher or any older person a patronizing nod instead of a courteous bow, or a curt "Good morning" or "Good evening" with the rising inflection on the last syllable, is an impertinence. Even little boys should learn to lift their hats to ladies, and also to gentlemen entitled by age or position to this mark of respect. We must keep step with the person with whom we are walking, if we would not make an awkward appearance. It is proper for a younger person to accommodate his pace to that of an older, and a gentleman must keep step with a lady. If we see any one fall in the street, we should never be so rude as to laugh, but should hasten to help if help is needed. If we speak to a stranger by mistake, we should ask pardon; and if one speaks to us, we should gracefully accept his apology, as if the mistake were most natural, not adding to his embarrassment by our manner of cold surprise. If we have occasion to ask directions of a stranger, we should say, "Will you please tell me if this is the road to Lynn?" rather than "Say! is this the road to Lynn?" We should never fail to give cordial thanks for information. In holding an umbrella over any one, we must carry it high enough, give more of it than we take, and in meeting other umbrellas give them their share of room. It is ill-mannered to eat anything in the street. No rubbish, such as paper, nutshells, or orange-peel, should be thrown on the sidewalk: there is a proper place for such things; and we ought to have too much regard for the neat appearance of our streets to litter them. In this connection, let us remember that to mark on walls or fences anywhere not only violates the right of property, but is exceedingly ill-bred. If we see names scrawled in public places, we may be sure the persons thus making themselves conspicuous are not ladies or gentlemen. We should never stare at windows of private houses, and never point at any person. Another rude thing often done is to ask a ride of a stranger, or, worse still, to steal one by jumping on his carriage without asking. If we see those who are lame or deformed, we should not call attention to them, or look at them ourselves in a way to remind them of their infirmities. If strangers inquire the way of us, we should answer their questions politely. We should give directions with clearness, and cheerfully go out of our way to point out a street or building. Sometimes we see on the street persons from the country, who seem bewildered by the noise and bustle, and uncertain which way to go. In such cases, especially if they are old or infirm, we should ask in a kind way if we can be of service; and we should be glad to help them out of their difficulty, even if it costs us time and trouble. The following incident illustrates this street politeness:— "As I was walking along a street of a large city," says the writer, "I saw an old man, who seemed to be blind, walking along without any one to lead him. He went very slowly, feeling with his cane, and was walking straight to the curbstone. Just then a boy who was playing near the corner left his playmates, ran up to the old man, put his hand through his arm and said, 'Let me lead you across the street.' He not only helped him over one crossing, but led him over another, to the lower side of the street. Now this boy thought he had only done a kindness to a poor old man, but in reality he had taught a lesson of true politeness to his playmates and to every person who saw the act." <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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