Ah, "Southern Manners"  Any Southerner grows accustomed, over
the years, to the New York Times' mode of writing about the
South.  They are at turns tendentious and sermonizing; indeed
they would be patronizing if they had the wherewithal to be
anyone's patron.  At this point, of course, the Times is hardly
what it used to be in that regard.  Still, today's entry --
"Southern Manners on Decline, Some Say" -- is an amazing example
of the genre.  It starts off with a headline as solidly correct
as those topping other newsworthy stories like "Aliens to Come
Soon, Some Say," and "Sasquatch is Real, Some Say."  Having thus
established its bona fides, the Times reporters will surely
begin with an example that shows Southern manners in decline,
right?  So, what we've learned here is that Southern manners are
actually still being enforced:  ladies should be offered a seat.
 The Tavern at Phipps is a very nice place, according to the
standards of taverns -- I've been there once -- and it is the
mark of very nice places