nnouncement of character and
breeding.

A thorough practical knowledge of elocution and constant application of
its principles to conversational utterances are requisite to refined
speech. Errors in pronunciation, hasty and indistinct enunciation, the
dropping out of entire syllables in curt phrasing, are common faults of
careless people _who know better_, and who would be very much chagrined
to find themselves accounted to be as ignorant as their speech might
indicate them to be.

A varied vocabulary used with discrimination indicates intelligence and
culture. A single word uttered may reveal grace, or betray awkwardness.
In the social interchange, one must not only suit the action to the word,
but equally suit the word to the action. Careless speech often belies
civil intentions.

Say "Thank-you," not "Thanks,"--a lazy and disrespectful abbreviation.
If you say "Pardon me," let your manner indicate a dignified apology. "I
beg your pardon," is sometimes only the insolent preface to a flat and
angry contradiction. In most phrases of compliment, the words derive
their real significance from the manner of the speaker.

There is a difference of opinion as to whether people of social equality
should add "Sir" and "Ma'am" to the responses "Yes" and "No"; and
especially, whether children should be taught to do so. The English
fashion--largely copied by Americans--does not favor it. Certainly,
children can learn to say "Yes" and "No" with the courteous manner that
implies all that the added "Sir" might convey. But, are not some young
Americans too ready to take advantage of this permitted lapse of verbal
deference? And, back of the verbal lapse is there not a distinct lapse
of the deference itself? It might be well to begin to counteract this
irreverent tendency of the age, by cultivating a more respectful and
appreciative spirit. Then, the polite word will come spontaneously to
the lips. It will be a matter of morals, essentially: of manners,
incidentally.

Deplorable as a heedless curtness of speech is, it is hardly more
unpleasant than the artificial mincing of words that some children are
drilled into (or learn by imitation of their elders). This superficial
effusiveness, supposed to be "pretty" manners, is related more to
subjective vanity than to objective courtesy. Not allowed to say "Sir,"
they substitute the name or title of the person addressed,--which, when
introduced occasionally and unobtrusive