ly, is a graceful personal
recognition; but when overdone, as too often observed, the constant
iteration of "Yes, Mr. Brown,"--"No, Mrs. Black," etc., grows to be a
maddening exposition of precocious affectation.

Having observed the vagaries of this fashion in phrasing for several
years, I have come to the conclusion that the plain "Sir" of former
times,--which, to the "well-brought-up" child, was a practical
application of the Fifth Commandment,--is much to be preferred to the
fussy elaboration of personal address that has superseded it.
Indications at present are, that the old-fashioned "Sir" and "Madam" are
coming into their own again, among truly courteous people.

But whatever the fickle fashion of the hour may be, it is important to
enforce the truth that the spirit of words and deeds is the essence of
good manners. If this right spirit be lacking, no words can fill the
blank. If an ugly spirit dwells within, no word of compliment can veil
its evil face.

But though the good spirit be there, with all its generous impulses and
kindly feeling, it needs the concrete expression; otherwise, its very
existence may remain unknown. "A man that hath friends must show himself
friendly." Pose, bearing, facial expression, the winning smile,--all
these are silently eloquent; but, to convey the perfect message from soul
to soul, there must be added the "word fitly spoken."

SELF-COMMAND

A theme for a volume! Briefly, it is the mark of a well-disciplined
mind to be able to meet all emergencies calmly. Though china break,
and gravy spill, the hostess and the guest must not allow the accident
to ruffle their perfect serenity of manner. Nor is it merely a point
of etiquette to be thus self-controlled. Serious accidents sometimes
happen, like the igniting of fancy lamp-shades or filmy curtains, and
then the calm poise of a well-bred man becomes of practical value to
himself and others. A habit of keeping cool--formed originally for
good manners' sake--may save one's life in some crisis of danger.

Control of temper is one of the most valuable results of training in
the etiquette of calm behavior. Manifestations of ill-temper may be
the occasional outburst of a spirit that dwells under the shadow of an
ancestral curse, but which in its better moments grieves in sackcloth
and ashes over its yielding to wild, ungovernable impulse. Such people
are often generous and self-sacrificing in the main, though causing s