ge.--That the importance of a knowledge of social
customs is widely felt is proved by the pathetic letters addressed to the
editors of women's magazines and departments, asking for information to
enlighten ignorance. Such letters range from the naive inquiry of the
unsophisticated girl as to whether it is "proper" to allow her "gentleman
friend" to kiss her good night, up to the plaint of the novice who doesn't
know how to make her spoons and forks come out even at a dinner-party.
Here in America, where circumstances may lift a family from poverty and
obscurity to wealth, with a position to win in a few brief years, the
first great anxiety of those not "to the manor born" is to learn how to
comport themselves in their new situation, and educate their children in
correct behavior.

Good manners are a necessary equipment of both men and women. In many
circles, success is impossible without such equipment. An agreeable
manner, a knowledge of what to do and when to do it, is indispensable to
the woman in society, and any man who meets other men in a business way
will willingly bear testimony to the reluctance with which he approaches
the gruff, brusque man, whose manners are patterned after those of Ursa
Major. The man whose manners are agreeable may be as ugly as Caliban, yet
please everybody.

Moreover, there is no weapon so effective against the rude and
ill-mannered as a calm politeness--a courtesy which marks the person who
can practise it as superior to the one who cannot. For one's own peace of
mind, one should learn the art of good manners.

A Matter of Habit.--Manners, like everything else in life, must be learned
by rule, the only possible exception being in the case of those who have
been brought up in what we call our best society, where what to do and how
to dress and behave have been matters of habit from earliest childhood.
When once the rules of etiquette are firmly fixed, they become instinctive
and are obeyed unconsciously. The individual then has "good manners." No
one can be easy and graceful who must stop to think how to do things.
Familiarity with form breeds ease and grace of manner. Therefore those who
would be letter perfect must practise the rules of good form at all times
and places. Manners cannot be put on and off like a garment. Moreover, as
has just been said, the politeness that comes of such observance is the
best possible armor against the rudeness or boorishness of the ignorant
and untra