The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1834-05-03
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FOR THE STAR.
FOR
MANNERS.

MANNERS.
.Res,.,nent Of manners-What is it Great
stress. in these days, is laid upon reflnement ot
MINERS Now as l have the interest OF my coun-
tryaen very much at heart, short essay upon thls
snb,a., NAV perhaps come quite appropos from
mo What i. re!ii @ nent il, manners How shall
we determine Shall we look for an abstract del
init IN or shall we generalize? Great men gcher-
niZe-so let US. IN
Ask the dandy what refinement is. lie will
Tell Won il consists in making bow oil certain
description, in carrying the DO dy in certain po-
ston, talking prettily to the ladies and beng d
bic gracefully to say what ne calls sense ana sen
sbe people call nonsense: AgainIasN ''e nun
or sense what refinement is lie will say 1t con-
s;st, in modest and decent demeanor, delicacy
and social qualities which render us agreeable ana
profitable members oil Society.
Now each of these classes has its own notions OF
manners and each differs widely from the other
Put the dandy into circle of intellectual men and
lie will make very odd appearance. lie may
attempt to make figure and gain an influence out
he will attract about as much notice as braying
puppy among herd Of lions. The little ANNA, !,
would be out Of his sphere and the hons woula
look upon him as n mere lap-dog for miss
But.reverse the case and put the man OF sense a
poong a company of fdandies and bellies Wil hls
situation be better than that OF the dandy lie
cannot bow and prate and scrape as they do. mai
man say thew is an awkward animal. III not
made of different material he is still grossly dehc-
lent in some Of the qualities which we possess IL
the material is MAJ bic it wants the pollsh and MAJ
BILE is not marble until it is polished They hold
him far inferior to themselves.
So look at the other classes. The peasant regards
the scholar guilty Of aifeciatlon. 1t hurts his
pride to see men affect superiority. He shuns them
and has no fellowship with them. The sailor when
he observes the ceremonies current among Other
classes putting Oh an Of conscious independence
calls them all '' pack of land lubbers." 10 gan
an influence over him by the observance OF estab
lshed ceremonies would require as much skill as Il
piIot ship anid rocks and shoals against the wine
and tide
Now what is refinement in manners Dandy
ism is refinement among dandes 30 each cins
rcg,lates its standard in accordance with It's owl
character The highest degree of refinement ihe
would he the power of adapting our manners to al
classes. A man of the highest refinement wou
he n sort of Chameleon endowed with the power o
changing his manners often as the chameleon
changes the color of his skin. He should be black
white or blue to suit the complexion OF his compa
nv. This then would be refinement. But tn
greatest difficulty would be in attaining such DE
gree of cultivation. 1t requires man OF apostoll
virtue to become " all things to all men, and Il
these days every man is in continual danger OF be
ing arraigned for breach good manners and trie
by a Jury of smart misses and old Uomsn.
N.