Modern Manners [antikvár]

IIVTROD1JCTION J\/[annEX5.-cJ^aus. ilxs. Okn^. at cT^/r? r~f he modern world is a horrid place. It lacks anything enduring and true. It is devoid of every tenable value. All existence is in disarray. Religious beliefs are no longer believed. Love is much discussed but little practiced. Morals are in confusion when they are in evidence at all. And intellect is no consolation: modem intelligence has become well-nigh unintelligible. Given that life is such a mess, why should anyone care which fork is for the oysters? And yet this may be the only thing we can care about. Just as cleanliness becomes more important at moments when godliness is not possible, so manners come to the fore when more august forms of authority collapse. When substance is execrable, we must make form do the work of content. The world is going to hell. All we can do is look good on the trip. xvu