WHEN MEN PRECEDE | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Mar 7, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 10.

WHEN MEN PRECEDE.

Generally speaking, a man always follows a woman in or out of a public place, through a door, and the like; but, as in everything else, there are exceptions. It is these which trouble a person to define, and yet the common sense that governs them will clear any mystery as to the whys and wherefores.

For example, a man always precedes a woman out of a crowded car and gets off, ready to help her. By his going first, he clears a way for her, and makes her egress less difficult. On the other hand, of course, he never precedes her from a room. It is wholly unnecessary, and would be the height of bad form.

An English custom that is gradually making its way here, is for a man to go first into a restaurant, leaving the woman to follow. The old American fashion would not have countenanced this; but it has a most excellent reason, as it allows the man to select the table. A woman does not wish to be at the beck and call of a head waiter, which is what happens if her escort is behind; whereas, if he is in front, the choice rests with him, and not with the waiter.

Another place where common sense is making an effective change is in having a man enter a door first, if it swings in. In many places such doors are opened by pages; but, when they are not, the man goes through first, and then stands holding it wide open for the woman.

This he can not do if he is behind her, for he can push it only the length of his arm, and that over the woman's shoulder, which is far less convenient for her than the new way. When a door opens out, the man, of course, always follows.

In spite of the discussion that arises from time to time over the point, a man always precedes a woman in going upstairs. In going down, he follows. He leads the way down the aisle of a public hall, the woman following; and, when he reaches the place where their seats are, he stands and waits for the woman to take hers. The same mode of procedure obtains in a church.—New York Telegram.