For Others - And His Wife

Poem for the Day

For Others - And His Wife
by Edgar Albert Guest

HE took off his hat to the woman next door,
But he wouldn't do that for his wife;
He picked up the handkerchief dropped Jon the floor,
But he wouldn't do that for his wife;
He ran for a chair when a fair maiden stood,
Did everything that a gentleman should,
When leaving he helped her get into her hood,
But he wouldn't do that for his wife.

He offered his arm to the fair Mrs. Brown,
But he wouldn't do that for his wife;
He gallantly carried her parcels from town,
But he wouldn't do that for his wife;
He helped her alight from the trolley car then,
Didn't stand on the platform to smoke with the men,
But sat down beside her. I'll say it again
That he wouldn't do that for his wife.

If it 'a proper these little attentions to pay,
Then he ought to pay them to his wife; 
No man is polite, let me venture to say,
If he isn't polite to his wife.
Fair woman deserves all our courtesies — true,
And enough for her no man is able to do,
But the man who's a gentleman right through and through,
Is a gentleman first to his wife.