My sister and I were taught to be polite! My mother wanted us to know how to sit at the table, how to ask others if they would like some bread, and how to pass them the cheese should they ask for it. So it was when I was in high school I received a prize from the DAR for "good manners." It came as a surprise to me just the same. An embroidered handkerchief!

Recently I was telling a friend that I wanted to do a book on...manners! "Manners are missing! But I cannot start without having a title! And I have not yet found a title!"

"I have one!" said my eight-year-old grandson raising his hand.

"And what can that be?" I asked him a bit dubious.

"Manners Make Friends," he cried out.

There it was! The perfect title! There was nothing left to do but get to work!

Sandra Calder Davidson is the daughter of the eminent artist and sculptor Alexander Calder. She lives in New York City.