Você está na página 1de 15

Bimaljeet kaur

Roll no 68
Govt Sec School Sanghna
General English
class +2
On Saying Please
BY A.G GARDINER
INTRODUCTION
This essay tells us about the value of
good manners.Bad manners are anti social. But
they are not a crime in the eyes of the law and
therefore the law does not permit us to hit
back if we have been the victims of bad
manners.If we are threatened by physical
violence ,the law protects us by some action.It
is good that the law does not permit physical
action in return for bad manners.actually
violation or breach of good manners is very
common. If there had been some punishment
for bad manners,it would have lead to too
much violence.People begin to avoid a man
with bad manners.He is not liked by anyone.A
person with good manners bring us
sunshine.His company is indeed very pleasant.
This essay deals with little but socially
important incident from daily life.It shows us
the importance of word like ’please’ or ‘thank
you’ in our every day life. They settle bitter
quarrels and soften bad tempers.the damage
done by an unkind word is more painful than
physical injury.
A lift-man in an office threw a passenger out
of the lift as the latter was impolite.He did not
use the word ‘please’ while asking him to take
him to the top.The author is of the opinion that
discourtesy is not a legal offence. If a person
knocks another person down because he has
broken the law ,the former will be acquitted
.But the liftman was in wrong because the law
does not permit anybody to use violence,if
another person is discourteous.
protect him against attack.An uncivil person
may be called ill-mannered but he cannot be
compelled by the law to say ‘please’. Moral and
intellectual damages have nothing to do in this
case.
The lift-man was perhaps badly hurt because
he considered it a blot on his social position.if he
had been kicked on the shin he could have
approached the law for getting it redressed but
the pain of a wound to self-respect would last a
longer period. If a person’s self-respect is
wounded, he remains uneasy till he inflicts such
a wound on some other person. Evil manners
start a vicious circle.In Sheridan’s play ‘The
Rivals’ the father,Sir Anthony absolute,rebukes
the son,captain Absolute goes out and scolds his
personal servant Fag.
quarters and kicking the page boy.Similarly,it is
quite possible that the employer,in his turn;had
been insulted by his wife who was simply trying to
work of temper which she got from the ill manners
of the cook.the cook in his turn was sore because
the house maid had been rude.A bad mood and
temper cause widespread infection.They do more
harm to the social life than the crimes recognized
by the panel code. All the same the law cannot
operate in this area because it is so vast.
It is true that no law requires us to be polite.
Politeness in speech and manners is not only
beneficial for the individual who practices it but also
for those around. Bad manners poison the general
stream of life.
Civility oils the machine of life,makes things
easier and keeps human being in good
relationship. It is not a social but a moral
obligation. The writer pays rich tribute to bus
conductor. With his good behavior he spreads
joy around him. A polite word to an impolite
person is sweeter form of revenge than the
revenge of throwing stones at him who throws
a stone at you.
Although the law does not compel us to be
polite yet social practise requires us to be civil.
Words like ‘please and ‘thank you ‘do keep the
machine of life in a good working order. They
teach us co-operation and we can get better
work by the use of these words.
to do. He was expecting that a conductor would
call his statement and old trick.But when he told
the conductor he had forgotten to bring money
with him,he accepted his explanation and gave
him the ticket up to his destination when the
author asked him where he should give him the
fare ,his simple reply was”oh you’ll see me
some day all right”.Luckily the author found a
shilling in one of the corners of his pocket and
he settled the account .
A few days later the author
was hurt by the heavy boots of the conductor
but he behaved in a very decent manner and
the author did not mind it. The conductor
always tried to make his passengers
comfortable. A journey with him was a lesson in
natural courtesy and good manners.
If we are uncivil,others also become uncivil. If we
show good manners others will also behave well.
A cheerful person can make a gloomiest person
cheerful. The author feels that it is always better
to be on the bus of that conductor when going
from one place to another. It is sound investment
to poses good manners. If words worth could get
a lesson from the poor-leech gatherer,there is no
harm in getting lessons from a person like bus
conductor who has good manners.War has
affected civilities of life. But they must be got
back to make life sweet, kindly and tolerable for
each other. The law cannot help us to get them
back, but it can only protect us against physical
attack. We should be polite towards others so as
to have a spiritual victory.
If the liftman had treated the passenger in the
civil manner, he would have attained the
spiritual victory over him.

Word meanings
passenger had
not observed the due courtesy in
addressing him.
4. Complainant-a person who makes
a
complaint.
5.Top – the topmost floor of the
building.
6.Demanded – required him to say.
7.Top please- add the word ‘please’
to the
word ‘top’
8.Concession-something allowed to
another’s favour.
9.Declined – refused
10.To comply with- to accept to carry
with.
11. Assault – attack
12. Battery- giving blows to another.
13 burglar- thief.
14. Acquit-discharge,say that a person
is
not guilty of wrong doing.
15. Physically –bodily
16. Assaulted-attacked
17. Violence-injure or hurt.
18.Punishable offence- a crime that
can be
punished.
19. Sanctioned-grant,allow.
20 The use of violence-giving blows or

assaulting.
21 Penalty- punishment.
22 Compel- force.
23 probable-likely.
24 wound-injury.
25 Acutely– Sharply or deeply.
26 Self-respect –Personal honour.
27 Vanity-Pride.
28 Denied- not given.
29 Boiled- threatened.
30 Verdict-Judgement.
Question Answers
Q. What is stand (attitude)of law towards bad
manners?
A The writer that bad manners and
discourtesy are not legal offence. So they do
not excuse the use of force and violence. No
legal system has ever made laws against bad
manners. Also law does not sanction the use of
violence against ill mannered persons. It seems
that law is reasonable. If discourtesy and bad
manners are considered a legal offence, there
will be lot of violence and fighting in the
society. Our fists will never be idle. The drains
of town and cities will be overflowing with blood
all the day.

Você também pode gostar