INTRODUCTION JOURNALIST EDITOR GENTLE HUMOUR ESSAYIST JOURNALIST Alfred George Gardiner was one of the most delightful essayists of the twentieth century. He wrote under the Pseudonym Alpha of the Plough. As a journalist, he started his
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JOURNALIST Alfred George Gardiner was one of the most delightful essayists of the twentieth century.
He wrote under the Pseudonym Alpha of the Plough.
As a journalist, he started his career on the staff of the Essex Country Chronicle and rose to be the editor of The Daily News in 1902.<br>
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EDITOR He is well-known for his reflective essays on contemporary life and for several biographical sketches.
For seventeen years he was the editor of The Daily News.
He received recognition for his services to journalism in 1915, when he was elected President of the Institute of Journalists.<br>
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GENTLE HUMOUR His writing is marked by a deep concern for
fellow men, unobtrusive preaching and gentle humour.
Gardiner writes about very ordinary matters
with an engaging dignity and charm<br>
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ESSAYIST Alfred George Gardiner was one of the most delightful essayists of the twentieth century.
The facility of expression is combined with a sparkle of good humoured wit in his essays.
In this essay On Saying Please, Gardiner deals with the rude behavior of thoughtless people in their social dealings, and stresses the need for civility in every day life.<br>
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ON SAYING PLEASE A.G. Gardiner deals with the behavior of people in their social life.
Once a passenger entered a lift and said,
"Top". The liftman threw him out of the lift. Because the liftman demanded "Top, please“
Discourtesy is not a legal offence<br>
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LITTLE COURTESIES Bad temper and bad manners are infectious.
There is no law that compels us to say 'Please'.
But there is a social practice which insists on civility.
The first requirement of civility is that we should acknowledge a service.
'Please' and 'thank you' are the little courtesies which make life run smoothly.<br>
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GARDINER'S EXPERIANCE Gardiner gives an example of a polite conductor.
Once Gardiner entered a bus and realized that he had no money in his pocket.
He told the conductor the truth.
The conductor allowed him to travel and gave him a ticket.
And the author found a shilling in his pocket and settled the account.<br>
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GOOD NATURE The conductor was a man of good nature.
He was patient with every passenger, and made everyone comfortable.
He was considerate with old people, youngsters and blind man.
Politeness brings sunshine into the lives of those who offer it.<br>
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INFORMATION The Gardiner concludes like bad manners that are infections, good manners also spread to other people.<br>
