GOOD FORM,

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 261, 28 July 1908, Page 5

GOOD FORM,

■ - When we hear anything described as '-good foriri,"' wo j Sum" it. up in' our mind 'as. synonymous with the correct thing." ■ Alas! that this' social hall-mark should often< mean so littlo and exclude so liiuch that is of vital importance!. . . . . - (..The. eye .'of - Mrs.- Grundy - is- apt. to view differently the behaviour- of tho, millionaire's, wijje and that of the poor governess, and what may. be'looked upon as charming originality in; tho former may be bad tasto in the latter.,'Wo arc yearly all professed Christian's,; but if .wo ;wish;._to be sincere, " good formmust have' a higher msaning for us than" merely correctness of mariner, and must '.go farther even than tact..-It must mean good : feeling and consideration for all with whom we come in contact. , Better by far tho mistake .that may stamp one as Vulgar' or bourgoois than tho slight shown to one .poor in this , world's' goods (though perhaps "rich in ,real worth), or the.,word that wounds intentionally. ■ We often seo one sitting alono in an assembly who appears to bs quite " qui of it." The hostess may have been asked by friends to be kind, and she has tried 'to be by sending an invitation, but has taken no further pains to ; introduce - this guest to those 'whom- she! thinks .will interest her anc] niake her feel at home. Or it may bo a ndw-comer in a small community, where all tho ;guests know each , 'othqr .intimately, and the talk is only of petty local interest,.-in which the stranger cannot •possibly; tako part... Yet. it- requires no great .effort to direct the conversation to subjects of general interest. In every circle there aro BoinoVamong us who need our special consideration; the aged, tho afflicted, and those who. have had- "" hardknocks" in life, and lost riches, .health, or beauty. Want of thought is often more to blame than, want of heart.;-Especially is this seen by the reckless way in-which-people talk. How' often we hear a religious community condemned in a room full of strangers, where members of it may be present and their, susceptibilities/,woiinded! . 1 People are discussed by name, and perhaps ridiculed,.and.it is afterwards discovered that their.friends and relations were sitting at tho samo.,table.... The :'ridiculo. of .foreigners is another."grave ,'error. ■To .make -consideration for others your guide, to learn to put yourself in their place, and study their point of view,'is "good form " in .'tho: highest ■ sense;—" Woman's World:"