Good Form and Christian EtiquetteHenry, S. M. I. (Sarepta Myrenda Irish)
Religion
Good Form and Christian Etiquette
Henry, S. M. I. (Sarepta Myrenda Irish)
Etiquette
Good form contains the bare principle, etiquette applies the principle,
and ethics brings _conscience_ into the practise of it. It is possible
for etiquette to violate every principle of both good form and ethics;
but good form and ethics will always agree when they understand each
other, and will make a safe environment in which any child, youth, man,
or woman may live, love, and labor.
Nowhere is the observance of good form more necessary than during a
journey. It is especially a safeguard to the young and inexperienced
against the designing and vicious.
The rule is that the traveling dress should be of the most unobtrusive
character, of some neutral color, with no showy embellishments on hat or
gown, something which can be readily shaken or brushed free of dust; and
that every movement should be such as to avoid attracting attention;
that no acquaintance should be formed with strangers, unless it be under
circumstances that could admit of no possible question.
It is bad form to stand and look about in a waiting-room, or to
promenade the platform, to turn the head and gaze at people, or to ask
questions of any but officials. These things, trivial as they may seem,
carefully observed, help to keep a hedge of safety about the young woman
or boy who is obliged to travel alone, while only a slight departure
from these rules will often open the way for annoyance, and even dangers
such as we can not discuss in these pages.
In the matter of asking questions, the prospective traveler should
inform herself concerning everything she will need to know of her route,
etc., as thoroughly as possible, before she starts, so as to make
questioning unnecessary. It is dangerous to depend even upon men in
uniform for information beyond certain narrow limits. Do not expect a
local ticket agent, nor yet a railroad conductor, brakeman, or Pullman
car porter to know what every passenger may need to know in order to
reach his destination.
The man in uniform is responsible for knowing one or two things and
seeing that his own end of the work is kept well in hand. Beyond that he
has no official responsibility, and is often as likely to abuse
confidence, and betray trusting ignorance, as any other man.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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