In our society today two customs walk side by side, and they often collide and cause confusion in behavior: the old custom, still deeply rooted in woman's soul, of always standing at a greeting; and the new custom, which is for the woman to keep her seat. The first is not to be criticized under any cir-cumstances, for it is the expression of a feeling of esteem and respect for the person presented to her; whereas the second custom is the one that creates trouble and mis-understanding, because many of our countrymen consider remaining seated a lack of respect toward their person, and so refrain from returning the greeting, and the atmosphere grows charged.

Faced with this situation, a woman finds herself perplexed: she inclines to stand, because she is used to it and considers it good manners to pay the duty of respect toward other people; but she fears that

people will think her backward and reactionary in her thinking.

And since a woman, like everyone else, must take circumstances into account and be mindful of the feelings of others, if she finds herself in doubt it is better for her to rise — for rising hurts no one, while failing to rise may wound others' feelings.

Here, madam, are some circum-stances, agreed upon morally and socially, in which you must rise without any hesitation:

First: you must stand whenever the national anthem is played, whether it is the anthem of your own country or that of those in whose company you are.

Second: rise when you greet the mistress or the master of the house whose hospitality you are enjoying.

Third: rise whenever you receive, and whenever you bid farewell to, one of your guests.

Fourth: whenever you are intro-

duced to a great personage, such as a head of state or a religious leader, you must rise to shake his hand.

Fifth: you must rise from your place whenever your superior at work approaches to speak to you on any matter whatever.

Sixth: a young woman should stand to greet every woman older than herself, and it is also commendable that she rise to greet a man who is her senior in years.

Seventh: rise whenever you find that your rising carries a meaning of respect, or in circumstances that call for respect.

I am certain, my dear madam, that these rules are agreed upon in most societies, Eastern and Western alike. If you take them as the mea-sure of your conduct, you will have fulfilled your social duty in this regard; you will incur no blame, and this side of your behavior will not be open to criticism.