A TEST OF MANNERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2841, 3 February 1925, Page 4

A TEST OF MANNERS.

As a means of curbing the tendency to the use of coarse language, the Manchester Guardian has commended the provision in the Manual of Military Law to which attention was recently directed by its production for the defence in a courtmartial. “Allowance,” remarks the paragraph, gravely, “must he made for coarse expressions which a man of inferior education will often use, ns mere expletives.” It is nicely put and it got the culprit off; and, perhaps, when he considers how gently, hut firmly his deplorable failing has been ascribed to ignorance rather than vice, he will think with some contrition of the need for mending his ways, says the Guardian. There was a time—indeed, the Act is still unrepealed —when civi-lian'‘-‘cursing and swearing” in public was regarded in rather the same way. An unskilled labourer, from whom little delicacy was to lie expected got off with a small tine for jiis misbehaviour, a “gentleman,” charged with the same offence, had to pay move stiffly for his imprecations. Even now there is in sode uses a distinction between net ionable slander and vulgar abuse, which again serves to remind us that the law tends to regard profane oaths and indecency as proof that the swearer is a low, uncouth follow, rather than a deliberate knave. There is much to he said lor the view, and some may be helped to curl) their tongues by remembering it.