THE MANNERS OF YOUNG MEN. 4,7 



for men to ignore. His politeness and deference are certainly learned 

 there, if anywhere. A mother must remember that all hints which she 

 gives her son, as to a graceful and gentlemanly bearing, are so many 

 powerful aids to his advancement in the world. A clergyman who did 

 not approve of dancing still sent his son to dancing-school, because, as he 

 said, he wished "him to learn to enter a drawing-room without stumbling 

 over the piano. 



The education of the body is a very important thing. The joints of 

 some poor boys are either too loosely or too tightly hung, and they find it 

 difficult to either enter or leave a room gracefully. " Don't you know 

 how hard it is for some people to get out of a room after their visit 

 really over ? One would think they had been built in your parlour or 

 study, and were waiting to be launched," says Dr. Holmes. This is so 

 true that one almost may suggest that it be a part of education to teach a 

 boy how to go away. The " business of salutation " and leave-taking is 

 really an important part of education. 



One great argument for a military exercise is that it teaches the stoop- 

 ing to stand up, the lagging to walk, the awkward to be graceful, the 

 shambling to step accurately. Lord Macaulay in his old age wished that 

 he had had a military training, as he " never had known which foot to 

 start with." 



There are some persons born into the world graceful, whose bodies 

 always obey the brain. There are far more who have no such physical 

 command. To those who have it not, it must be taught. The amen; 

 of home should begin with the morning salutation, a graceful bow from 

 the boy to his mother, as he comes into breakfast. 



And table manners, what a large part they play in the amenities of 

 home! A mother should teach her boy to avoid both greediness and 

 indecision at table. He should l>e taught to choose what he wants at oner 

 and to eat quietly, without unnecessary mumbling noise. Unless she 

 teaches him such care early, he will hiss at his soup through life. Sin- 

 must teach him to hold his fork in his right hand, and to eat with it, and 

 t<> use his napkin properly. If Dr. Johnson had been taught these accom- 

 plishments early, it would have been miv agreeable for Mrs. Thralr. 

 h your boy the grace of calmness. Let the etiquette of the well 



1, well-onlere.l taMe be so familiar to him that he will not be 

 flustered if h<- u; * Ine-glaM, 01 utterly diaOOmpOMd it' a SD66M Off a 



choking tit : i<l<l<n retreat l-ehind his napkin, when, after lu- 



es you, he essays t dim- al.road. 



