Posted by Peter Ceresole on October 31, 2009 at 23:04:21 user PeterC.
In Reply to: Re: older or younger? posted by Adam Quinan on October 30, 2009 at 13:40:59:
It could also be that the boys were being gentlemen who let ladies go first
At the time (and at the time AR was writing) that would certainly be the case. Definitely 'ladies first'.
Mind you, politeness still rules, especially with the young. I have very white hair and I guess I look my age. In London, in the rush hour on the bus and the Underground, I am constantly being offered a seat by young women who are clearly well brought up. This isn't a 'middle class' thing- seeing where we live, most of them are young black women probably from Peckham or Brixton.
I find this very cheering- moving in fact. This seems a good time and place to live.