Chapter IV: Letter III: Manner

APHORISM of a Celebrated Observer of Human Nature--Manner
indicative of Character--Benefits of Care and Attention in
Youth--The Fashionable Manner of the Day--Danger of
Affectation in Manner--Americans too often Caricature their
European Models--Good Sense and Manly Independence the best
Guides in the Formation of Manner--True Politeness--Elegant
definition of Politeness by a celebrated Author--Good
Breeding inseparable from the Character of a Gentleman--Sir
Philip Sidney, a Christian Gentleman--Manner the proper
expression of Mental Qualities--The Laws of Convention--Their
proper Use and Applicability--Conduct towards Superiors in
Age and Station one Test of Good Breeding--Example of
Washington in this respect--Polished Manners of the Men of
Revolutionary Days--Bad Taste of Slang Language and
Disrespectful Familiarity in speaking of Superiors or
Parents--Reverence rendered to Age by the Ancients--Rudeness
of "Young America" in this respect--The Law of Kindness a
sure Correction--Possibility of Benefit to be derived from
the consideration of those who have seen the World--
Disadvantages of early Neglect of Manner--Improvement
always possible, at any age--Benefit of the early Acquisition
of Habits of Self-Control and Self-Possession--Advantage of
proper Examples in this respect, 72

THE HANDSOME ENGINEER.--A Railroad Depot and a Dilemma--The
Field-Book and Soiled Boots--The Blessings of Civilization--
An Honest Saxon Word--The Charge--The Arrival--A Recognition
--A Metamorphosis--The Economy of driving in Dress-Boots--
A Whisper--The Secret of the Charm of Manner, 79

AN AFTER-DINNER COTERIE.--The St. Nicholas Hotel and Santa
Claus--A Pleasant Meeting--A Social Re-Union--The _Dramatis
Personae_ of the Occasion--A Sketch--"Willard's," at
Washington--The weary Child--The Courteous Strangers--A
Grateful Tribute--Charge against American Ladies--Southern
Manner--The Stupid Porter and the _contre-temps_--An
Inference--A Scene in a Country Tavern--A French-Woman and a
Yankee-Woman--Jonathan and the Snuff-box--A Tooth-ache and a
Rocking-chair--Sympathy and Vivacity--The Climax of
Impatience! 82

A POLITE YOUNG IRELANDER,--A Fight--An Exclamation--A Fair
Vision, 91