Manners Make a Man

Manners Make a Man
A man is known to be good or bad according to the way he behaves towards others and under some circumstances. When his habits and manners are good, he is known to be a gentleman. A man with proper manners attracts the attention and admiration of everyone, whereas the man with ill-manners draws himself the ridicule and contempt of others.
Cultivation of good manners should be started from the childhood and if it is done so, it would become an asset in life. An accident was witnessed many years ago could be cited in support of such training being given early in life. A well dressed and educated couple who appeared to belong to the higher levels of society was traveling in a first class compartment of an express train and with them was their girl child of about 3 years old.
There were only three or four other passengers in the compartment. A few minutes after the train steamed out of the station, the child asked for a biscuit and it was given by her mother. When the girl was about to eat that, the mother snatched it away from her hands.
A few minutes later this ‘drama’ was enacted three times, the biscuit being snatched away when it was about to put to the lips. This attracted the attention of other passengers. The fourth time girl asked for the biscuit and when it was given, she said “Thank you Mummy”, and she was permitted to eat the biscuit.
This was training in good manners, training in courtesy, not given with scolding and rebukes and reminders from the mother, but one of a lesson in self-realization. This child was made to think and act; it was made to think and understand about the apparently meaningless and seemingly cruel act of the mother. If such training is given to every child the world would be a better place to live in.