Part 6 (1/2)
BEFORE we fairly begin the journey ant to consider what belongs to good -rooht cheerfully to give place to older people, especially to old ladies and to mothers with little children in their arms There is often opportunity here to show little courtesies to others which hten their whole day
To alass of water when the mother cannot leave other children to do it, or to find the baggage-et a trunk checked for a nervous old lady, is a s in itself, but it may be more welcoreater favor at another time The comfort or discos
When the ticketis opened there is no need for us to rush to it or to push aside any one else Tiht, if possible, to hand the exact price of the ticket, and not take the ticket-seller's tie bills
For the same reason we should ask for the ticket in the briefest sentence we can frame, and if a question is necessary, put it in the iven
We should not atte off: it hinders the haste The much-ridiculed American hurry is well illustrated by a co up the steps while another co down When we leave the cars it is better to wait until they co froet out as soon as if ent swaying down the aisle, crowding other people, and in danger of falling headlong when the train finally stops
What has been said about obtaining seats at places of amusement applies to seats in cars as well Those who coood ht to more room than we pay for, and, unless there are plenty of unoccupied seats, it is rude and selfish to spread out our parcels and wraps so as to discourage any one fro to sit beside us; yet a well-dressed woed on a seat facing her, ignoring the fact that others are standing in the aisle, is not an uncommon spectacle
Courtesy in the cars or in a coach is as binding on us as courtesy in the parlor, and never, perhaps, is it better appreciated than by tired travellers
Good-breeding does not require a gentle, but he should never fail to do it to an old lady or one with a child in her are; and it is pleasant to see that fine politeness which prompts its possessor to treat every lady as he would wish his mother or sister treated A lady should not accept such a civility in silence We too often see her drop into a seat which a gentleht, without a word or even a bow of acknowledght to expect a similar courtesy the second time
If any one leaves his seat for a ti any piece of property in it to show that it belongs to hi; but civility should prevent any one fros to another
In travelling, as everywhere in public, noisy conversation and the ”loud laugh that speaks the vacantof fruit and peanuts is bad enerally associated with loud talking and laughing and other rude behavior
On long journeys it is necessary to eat luncheons or even regular meals, but this, done in a well-bred way, is a very different thing froed in by a certain class of travellers
We should not sit down beside another without asking if the seat is engaged If a person asks to sit beside us, we should assent with cordiality, not sullenly gather up our bundles, as we often see people do, i their selfish ease disturbed It is polite for a gentleht to have our ticket ready when the conductor co while we hunt for it in bag or pocket
If a brakeman raises aor shuts a door for us, we should thank him; and it is polite to thank the train boy who passes us water We need not be ill-natured because he puts a e in our lap every half-hour It is not an uncivil thing to do, and it is just as easy for us to receive it civilly, and say in a pleasant tone that we do not care for it, as to add one iven him in the course of a day
We should be watchful of occasions to show politeness to our fellow-travellers There , anxious and uneasy, to e can be of use We can ask where she is going, and take the burden off her , ”I will tell you e co to open or shut aor reverse a seat without offering to do it for her, any entle questions, especially fro objects of interest hich we are fa near If ere journeying in the White Mountain region and ell acquainted with it, a stranger by our side would like to know the names of the different peaks, and to have the historic Willey House pointed out to hi person will add to the comfort of the whole co periods of waiting, as often happen, we should be patient and cheerful over the matter ourselves, and thus help others to be so Good-nature is contagious at such times It is of no use to tire the conductor and brakemen with repeated questions: they are rarely responsible for the delay, which is more vexatious to them than to us
Places for refreshment on a journey, with the brief tiood or ill breeding It would be better to have no lunch than to struggle for the best place and loudly de a cup of tea to an old lady, or to the ht thing for us to do, but it reat favor to them
In an article on the politeness of French children as coirls in A in this way:--
”I was travelling in a coe at which A for their rudeness and general disagreeableness I sat between hi pears Now e would either have dropped the cores upon the floor or tossed theard to anybody But this sentleman, every time, with a 'Permit me, sir,' said in the most pleasant way, rose and came to theand dropped them out, and then with a 'Thanks, sir,' quietly took his seat French children do not take favors as a ed And when in his seat, if an elderly person came in, he was the very first to rise and offer his place, if it were in the slightest degree ood-nature hich he insisted on the new-cooes on to say that this was not an exceptional boy, but a fair type of the average French child, and his conduct was a saed boys of the street
The reason for this state of things is given in the opening sentences of the article:--
”Politeness, with the French, is a matter of education as well as nature The French child is taught that lesson fro of its existence, and it isthat is never forgotten, and the lack of it never forgiven”