The Home as a School for Good Manners

Not long ago I visited a home where such exceptionally good breeding prevailed and such fine manners were practised by all the members of the family, that it made a great impression upon me.

Not long ago, I visited a home where everyone showed exceptionally good upbringing and fine manners. This made a great impression on me.

This home is the most remarkable school of good manners, refinement, and culture generally, I have ever been in. The parents are bringing up their children to practise their best manners on all occasions. They do not know what company manners mean.

This home is the most remarkable school of good manners, refinement, and culture I have ever seen. The parents are raising their children to use their best manners at all times. The children do not know what it means to save their best manners for guests.

The boys have been taught to treat their sisters with as much deference as though they were stranger guests. The politeness, courtesy, and consideration which the members of this family show toward one another are most refreshing and beautiful. Coarseness, gruffness, lack of delicacy find no place there.

The boys have been taught to treat their sisters with the same respect they would show guests they did not know. The politeness, courtesy, and consideration family members show one another are refreshing and beautiful. There is no room for rudeness, gruffness, or insensitivity in their home.

Both boys and girls have been trained from infancy to make themselves interesting, and to entertain and try to make others happy.

Both boys and girls have been taught from infancy to be interesting, to entertain others, and to try to make them happy.

The entire family make it a rule to dress before dinner in the evening, just as they would if special company were expected.

The whole family makes a habit of dressing for dinner each evening, just as they would if special guests were coming.

Their table manners are specially marked. At table every one is supposed to be at his best, not to bring any grouch, or a long or sad face to it, but to contribute his best thought, his wittiest sayings, to the conversation. Every member of the family is expected to do his best to make the meal a really happy occasion. There is a sort of rivalry to see who can be the most entertaining, or contribute the spiciest bits of conversation. There is no indication of dyspepsia in this family, because every one is trained to laugh and be happy generally, and laughter is a fatal enemy of indigestion.

Their table manners are especially noteworthy. At meals, everyone is expected to be at their best. No one should come to the table grumpy or looking gloomy or sad. Instead, everyone should contribute their best thoughts and wittiest remarks to the conversation. Each family member is expected to help make the meal a truly happy occasion. They even compete to see who can be the most entertaining or offer the liveliest conversation. There is no sign of indigestion in this family. Everyone is taught to laugh and be happy in general, and laughter is a deadly enemy of indigestion.

The etiquette of the table is also strictly observed. Every member of the family tries to do just the proper thing and always to be mindful of others' rights. Kindness seems to be practised for the joy of it, not for the sake of creating a good impression on friends or acquaintances. There is in this home an air of peculiar refinement which is very charming. The children are early taught to greet callers and guests cordially, heartily, in real Southern, hospitable fashion, and to make them feel that they are very welcome. They are taught to make every one feel comfortable and at home, so that there will be no sense of restraint.

Good table manners are also strictly observed. Every family member tries to do the right thing and always respects others' rights. They seem to practice kindness for the joy of it, not to impress friends or acquaintances. The home has a special air of refinement that is very charming. From an early age, the children are taught to greet visitors and guests warmly, with true Southern hospitality. They learn to make everyone feel welcome, comfortable, and at home, so that no one feels ill at ease.

As a result of this training the children have formed a habit of good behavior and are considered an acquisition to any gathering. They are not embarrassed by the awkward slips and breaks which are so mortifying to those who only wear their company manners on special occasions.

As a result of this training, the children have developed good habits and are welcome at any gathering. They are not embarrassed by the awkward mistakes that mortify people who use their best manners only on special occasions.

A stranger would almost think this home was a school of good breeding, and it is a real treat to visit these people. It is true the parents in this family have the advantage of generations of fine breeding and Southern hospitality back of them, which gives the children a great natural advantage. There is an atmosphere of chivalry and cordiality in this household which is really refreshing.

A stranger might almost think this home was a school for good manners. Visiting this family is a real treat. The parents have the advantage of generations of good manners and Southern hospitality behind them. This gives their children a great natural advantage. The atmosphere of courtesy and warmth in this home is truly refreshing.

Many parents seem to expect that their children will pick up their good manners outside of the home, in school, or while visiting. This is a fatal mistake. Every home should be a school of good manners and good breeding. The children should be taught that there is nothing more important than the development of an interesting personality, an attractive presence, and an ability to entertain with grace and ease. They should be taught that the great object of life is to develop a superb personality, a noble manhood and womanhood.

Many parents seem to expect their children to learn good manners outside the home, at school or while visiting others. This is a fatal mistake. Every home should be a place where children learn good manners and courteous behavior. Children should learn that nothing is more important than developing an interesting personality, an attractive presence, and the ability to entertain others gracefully and easily. They should learn that life's great purpose is to develop an excellent personality and become a noble man or woman.

There is no art like that of a beautiful behavior, a fine manner, no wealth greater than that of a pleasing personality.

There is no art like graceful behavior and good manners. There is no greater wealth than a pleasing personality.