A Lesson in Courtesy

White Ribbon, Volume 20, Issue 2, 1 March 1948, Page 9

A Lesson in Courtesy

B) \ Prom Canadian "White Ribbon Tiding

bc lovely summer afternoon Mrs. Barr and bcr neighbour, Mi- Graham, itting in the lawn-swing on the ,er'- shady lawn, chatl the) ted then foi the Both ladies were active memo\ their resnt -. ia jtonary Work and in Ladies 1 Vid, ,ail as being ardent members and workers in, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. All through the war they had helped the Red Ci lending parcels to boys overseas and artng many "bundles for Britain." Now the actual fighting was ended they -till sewed and collected clothing the needy folk in the wardevaetated couutrU welin other ways did all they could !• help those in dire n< . | ami Mi ». I h.iiwuii win in their later thirties, with U

j oung in- >plc in their homes \ - natural the) spoke t of the maa) temptations their young folk had to in these ultra-modern days, i uilly in the supposedly "-mart to which so man) teen-aj iioi di a sd which seemed to think arty could n«»t be a success unless re were "cocktails," or wine, beer, according t<» the taste of the up. You know," Mrs. Graham remarked. in puxzled at the attitude of man) rwiae intelligent and goodt< ' women who have succumbed ailing custom of serving what the) call the "social glass," and •me who never used to have liquor in r homes now think they just must . tlroholtf drink- Tl. take it as a personal affront if a guest - to refuse these be ind tlitery for a glass ~i' water. Why do you suppose they act that "Well, I'm not quite sure I've mctimes thought that ha thai ing of offence i- an accusing connce, which makes the hostess feel that tlir abstaining guest ma) make the "cocktail-drinking members of her .. suffer embarrassment.''

"Yea, 1 can see that might be. But why don't they ever think how difficult that attitude nukes it for the uondrinl \£E\ don'l want t cither host ests, but the) the) should be allowed t drink or not t<> drink without any that they might embai rass as tli wi re silent for a few moments. I'ri sently sirs. Barr spoke. "I had an unusual e Kperiem i that verj line recently. All l aren't tj ous to, or thought! about, their abstainin you -J that ii what I I «.iit." She | •i ~i ~11 .Mr\ I'.arr. M> curiosit aroused, w hat happened !

"It happened at i Red Cn inly wine and cal to be sen ed b) the In istess 1 apparently t straa all but mj ho*t< is, whom I had met at ■ tea given by our W.CT.U. in aid of warorphan-. Slu- was • us, cultured lish lady, and had made us all happy and ;it ease. 1 had noticed person in the group, I rather loudvoiced, domineering type, wl mannei and voice seemed to in) 'Ti somebody" and whose presence was the onlj jarring n ••Well, to shorten U) itory, the ■ ss bei aa t i pans the wine and cakes. I noticed that ■ the wine, and it so chanced that I was the Inst to be offered • ments. I smiled and quietly -aid. "MrI dank, do you mind it 1 r a glass of water?" '•W'KLL! of all thing!' exploded the arrogant person. "Sod nerve! I never >aw such rudeneai I knew my race went red, but our ious hostess looked square!) at tin rude guest and countered, politely, hut coldly; "\\ h\ do you call lira. Barr rude? It yuii were in her hoatc, and she

i. and you, f< own I water, w am rju< it ha\ c the right to l>< rud< ai ave just been to Mr-. Barr?" Turning at once I Mrs Blank uld you cs ape-fruit juice, Mr-. Ban "Thank you, 1 WOUW hk fruit juia nient, but water will be quite all right." \ quiet * hcient n brought me the defo cold it-juice, and as I lipped it. Jny host* ! to the rather embarrassed ladid have been more tho nil, and have remembered that Mrs. Barr belongs to i group wfa rule tor membership happens bo be total abstinence from all l< • n w ine. Ph h c me, Mi - Barr, I r ha caused you this embarrassing moment." There was no n< i Is, a- I am -lire the grateful -nnk her told how warml) I appreciated her courtes)."

'"Will now, that's what 1 call a truly courteous lady," was Mr- Graham's ment. 'dim really, 1 wonder why ho feel they must serve alcoholic drink* nearl) always tail to provide the non-alo users? Bui I must ! * The iil) will -on h( in i. r suppi we're i ! tied and have dinni ■•.. i . i . . . / J lIHIIA I II til ('IV. H itory. 1 "idy hope that old tattleaxe' felt properl) squelched." me nnv, don't he i-■«> bard her. Think what a grand oppoitunit) -he gave Mrs. Blank t>> teach bet needed ICSSOn in SOCial COUftl "». Ibye Mr-. Barr, I'll be loo* for yOU at OUr tea at the- Market next week." **l'll he on hand, never tear. (~„,d