42 - Sunday, August 17, 1986 - North Shore News Lifestyles ELEMENTARY RULES OF ETIQUETTE IGNORED ARE YOU going to behave yourselves now, or do you want Miss Manners to call in the police? It is not Mics Manners’ custom to resort to such harsh threats. She has always believed that courtesy, kindness and an occasiona! deadly look with a raised eyebrow are weapons enough with which to regulate ordinary human behavior. But the issue of smoking has in- Spired such widespread, unaccep- table manners in both smokers and non-smokers for so long that Miss Manners would be relieved to have regulation of smoking made a matter of law, as many people are suggesting. She is more than ready to turn her attention to more com- plicated problems. manners by Judith Martin She is, however, bothered by the idea that this would be a public acknowledgment of the failure of our society to observe elementary rules of etiquette in the interests of peace and harmony. Have we real- ly sunk so low that we cannot practice simple toleration and con- sideration of others unless required by law? It would seem so. Miss Manners is hard put to say who is behaving worse, those who insist upon of- fending other people with their smoke or those who insist that on- ly rudeness and humiliation toward smokers will clear the air.” It is true that the greater burden of consideration ought to be on smokers. Subjecting other people to the effects of one’s pleasures is rude, and Miss Manners hopes that all those filling the air with noise are paying attention. Earphones are a marvellous solution for those who wish to enjoy their own taste in music privately in public, and there is no excuse at all for the broadcasting of foreground or background music in any public area. But since it was discovered that smoking is bad for the health, non-smokers, including many ex- smokers, have taken on an air of PRE-MATERNELLE TROTIN righteousness that) makes their otherwise fegitimate objections highly offensive. Minding one’s business is not exactly the strong suit in this society right now, where many people are amazed to find that friends and even strang- ers are not grateful for unsolicited criticism of their weight, eating and exercise habits, clothes and hairstyles. It is also a great deal easier to settle conflicts on the superficial level of manners than to fight it all oul as a matter of morals, In more civilized times, it was always understood that smoking should not be done in the presence of non-smokers. There were times and places to smoke, and even smoking jackets, so that smokers could go among non-smokers afterward without bringing the smell of smoke with them. In those days, smokers were teferred to as ‘“‘gentlemen’’ and non-smokers as ‘‘tadies."’ Gentlemen smoked in their smok- ing rooms or after the ladies had left the table. If one did wish to smoke in a lady’s presence, he, asked her permission politely,-with the understanding that that per- mission could easily, and politely, be denied. No gentleman blew smoke into a lady’s face, saying, “If you don’t Nike it, tough.’’ But then, no lady grabbed a cigarette out of a gentleman’s mouth, shouting, ‘‘/ don’t care if you kill yourself, pig, but stop polluting my air." When ladies began smoking, too — or began smoking openly — manners were cast aside. AVIATION LTD. FLIGHT TRAINING BEGINNERS / ADVANCED Register Now For Our Ground School Ciasses Starting Sept. 4/86 465-5414 Pitt Meadows Airport (35 min. from 2nd Narrows) OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK FRENCH “PRESCHOOL TROTINETTE Trotin & Trotinette orfers a program in French Room 17, 370 West Kings Rd., N. Van. Info: 985-6726 or 985-7044 Nous offrons un programme en Francais pour les enfants de 3, 4, et 5 ans. We offer a program in French for 3, 4 & 5 yr. olds. Miss Manners suggests we bring them back. That means that smokers should generally smoke privately, and that areas should be designated in which you can comfortably do so. It means that if they do want to smoke in front of a non-smoker they should ask, “Do you mind if 1 smoke?" and cheerfully accept the reply. But it also means that that reply, or a request that an already-lit cig- arette be extinguished, should be made politely. Rudeness is unac- ceptable, and it should not be nec- essary to claim an allergy. One should only need to say, ‘‘I'’m so sorry, but smoke bothers me." Miss Manners promises that observation of these simple custoins would solve what has become an outrageous problem. Please practice them. Otherwise, she is going to turn the matter over to you know who. DEAR MISS MANNERS — Can you think of any other phrase than “May TE help you?"’ to be used by persons who wait on the public. The Bare Facts As fashions for both men and women climb to new body- revealing heights, so does sell- consciousness. Nothing can ruin sensual looks or destroy con- fidence, more than bothersome facial and body hair. By permanenily re noving hair with elec{rolysis, men and women may never again have to face the embarrassing problem of excess body hair. Time- consuming struggles with tem- porary methods such as shaving, waxing, tweezing and depilitories are eliminated forever. Keep the summer time took all year round. Marie Stafford Certified Electrofogist TAP.E. B.C. AS.S. North Shore Electrolysis Clinic Room 2178 Medical Dental Building 1940 Lonsdale, North Vancouver 80-2022 929-4468 (res.) OPEN Udou't mind being asked, ‘May [help your" if } step right up to a counter, However, i2 i'm fifth in line, say, and J am asked this when I finally reach the head of the line, my temptation to come up with a nasty retort is strong. 1 do so want to say, “Oh, | thought this was a line for the washroom," or “No, thank you, I just enjoy standing in line.”’ Ia other words, the query ‘'May {help you?” is redundant. lam in line to be helped — right? GENTLE READER — Miss Manners can think of many phrases which would pass your test of meaning exactly what they say: “*Look, lady, we're closing in 15 minutes, and I'm not about to get involved in your transaction.” “Can't you see we're having a good conversation behind the counter here and don't want you intruding with your stupid de- mands?"* “I get paid by the hour, not on commission, so if you can't find what you want, don’t come crying to me.”’ And so on. ‘May I help you?" sounds pretty good to Miss Man- ners, and she will thank you for not discouraging people from us- ing it, THE CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF NORTH VANCOUVER PUBLIC NOTICE LIST OF ELECTORS TAKE NOTICE that registration for the 1986 Municipal List of Elec- fj tors closes at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 2nd, 1986. if BM RESIDENT ELECTORS fa The qualifications for registration are: (1) 19 years of age or older (2) Canadian citizen or British Subject (3) Resident of Canada for past 12 months (4) Resident of British Columbia for past 6 months, and (5) Resident of the District of North Vancouver fur past 3 monins Non-resident Electors or Tenants in Occupation B Persons who qualify with the above requirements, except for i residence in the District of North Vancouver, and who own land j # or are tenants in occupation in the District of North Vancouver, are & a entitled to register as electors. | To register, or to confirm that your name is already on the List; & H please contact the office of the Municipal Clerk at 987-7131, Local & 212. August 17th, 1986 (Mrs.) H.W. Egleston Municipal Clerk IOUSE EB CG ? CARISBROOKE SCHOOL OF DANCING Senior School 1819 Capilano Rd. Aug. 23 1 to 7 pm © Free Classes during open house XO Dance Demonstration — by students O Registration of New Students 1) Dance Supplies Sold C RAD Ballet Pre Primary — Avanced 0 Jazz For information — Free Brochure 2 ISTD Modern and Tap C1 Creative Pre-School OC Ballroom & L.A. 987-3814