The other day someone said their dad, uncles and nearly every man they knew “doffed,” or tipped their hat when meeting a lady on the street. How they always took their hat off while dancing, when they walked into a house, whether their own or someone else’s home. They hung their hat on the hook provided by the cafe when eating out. If there was no hook provided, they placed the hat somewhere in the booth or under their chair. When meeting anyone on the street they always “saluted” them by simply touching the brim of their hat. I know my dad and my uncles did this.
When driving and met a vehicle on the road, they always signaled hello to the driver, by waving one or two fingers in the air, perhaps by pointing at them as if their hand was a pistol, maybe by waving their hand, all fingers extended. If there were others in the car they met, the signal said “Hi” to them as well. Most everyone had their own special way of waving to you.
When walking on the sidewalk, the man was nearest the street, the mannerly way of escorting a lady. It came from when “chamber pots” were emptied out of windows. The lady was less likely to be touched by the contents of the bucket, as she was more likely to be protected by the second story balcony. The same protection from rain, when buildings had awnings. Also the male was nearest the traffic, keeping the lady from being splashed by passing cars.
There are a lot of mannerly rules we no longer use. Chamber pots are no longer a problem, for one thing. But, there is still room for manners. My dad always said that if kids are taught good manners, everything else falls in place. Manners are pretty much the Golden Rule, “Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You.” Another thing I haven’t heard in a long time.
A couple of things I’ve noticed lately. Bikers often pass without warning whomever is being passed that a bike is coming. A simple warning, “bike coming by,” would be great. This is simply mannerly.
There are a lot of horse riders in and around Estes Park. Some of these riders are not good riders. It might even be the first time they’ve been on a horse. They are already nervous. Sometimes the trail takes them across a road. The guides will have flaggers that will place themselves between the guests and oncoming traffic. Usually carrying a flag or waving their hats. I have often seen vehicles disregard the flaggers and drive right up to the string of horses and maybe even drive through the horses. Others stop, but then honk their horns in an attempt to get them to hurry. Are you really in that big of a hurry? It’s not the horse backers who made you late.
Using manners would go a long ways toward fixing many of the problems we are facing today.
The Link LonkApril 11, 2021 at 12:57AM
https://www.eptrail.com/2021/04/10/ride-easy-doff/
Ride Easy: Doff - Estes Park Trail-Gazette
https://news.google.com/search?q=easy&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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