Litchfield enquirer., 1840-07-16
WANT OF COURTESY.


 trait, in the position and manners of her country women. In one of her late produc- ,tions, Means and Ends," she says" The most striking and prevailing defect in the manners of the Americans, is, l believe, want of courtesy. This has probably arisen. from the general equality of rights, condi- ton, and education. And it arises in part from that naauuaise homie, or shyness, charac- terstc of our English ancestors, from whom we inherit it. A little reflection and moral cultivation would soon remedy this defect.- What do mean by courtesy, and how is the want of it shown, do you ask? few wlI1- ters since, well-bred young foreigner came to the interior and took lodgings at village. inn, flo: the purpose of learning the English language. To facilitate it's acquisition, he generally preferred remaining in the receiv- ing room of the tavern, where travellers were passing in and out. His writing table was placed before the fire. When the wo- men came shiverng in from long, dreary drive in the stage-coach, he moved his table 10 the coldest corner of the room, mcnded the fire, drew chairs near it, and, if they brought in foot-stoves or blocks, he found the best place to heat them. He then returned 10 his own uncomfortable seat, and pursued his writing or reading.
 The women proited by his civilities, with out appearing to notice them. During the whole winter he never received one word of cknoWlcdgmcnt--not one 'Thank you, sir or, you arc very kind, sir or, what would have seemed inevitable, pray don't take that cold scat, sir What was the: polished strangers inference? Certainly, that the Americans were a most diScourte- ous, if not cold hearted people.
 Cold. hearted we are not These women were probably generally impressed with the young mans attentions: one of them, know, in relating her travelling experience at her own fireside at night, said, she never should forget a young man at the tavern in S-. She thought she should have died with the cold before she got there; and when she went in, he moved away from the fire, and gave her the rocking chair-hung her cloak over the back of another, and did every thing just if he had been her own son!' And yet this good woman had not in- dicatcd in her manners to the young man that she ever saw him. Here there was no expression ofthe real feeling, no courtesy
 1 have often seen men in steamboats, in stage coaches, in churches, and other public meetings, rise and give their seats to womer, and the women seat themselves quietly, with out look or word of acknowledgment. And so with q thousand other attentions which arc rendered and received without any re- turn. Avoid such discourtesy, my young fricndS-it is not only displeasing, but un- just. We actually owe some return for such civilities, and a courteous acceptance is, in most cases, the only one that can be made. 1 These little chance courtesies are smiles on the face of manner, and smiles are like sum- shine; we can scarcely have too much of cithcr."
 A person pointed out man who had profusion of rings on his fingers to n cooper. "Ah master" said the artisan, it Is sure sign ot weakness when | so many hoops are used.
 F2ouers and .Shrubs-Why does not every lady who can afford it-and who cannot have gcranium or some other flower in her window! It is very cheap-its cheapness is next to nothing if you raise it from the seed,. or from slip and it is a beauty and com- panon. It was the remark of Leigh Hunt that if sweetens the air, rejoces the eye, links you with nature and innocence, and is some- ! thing to love. And if it cannot love you in, return, it cannot hate you; it cannot utter a hateful thing, even for your neglecting it for though it is all beauty, it has no vanity; and, such being the case, and living as it does purely 10 do you good and afford you pleasure. how will you be able to neglect it! | We receive in imagination, the scent of those | good natured leaves, which allow you to car- " off their perfume on your fingers; for good nntured they are, in that respect, above all other plants, and fitted for the hospitality of your room. The very feel of the leaf has household warmth in t-something anala. gous to clothing and comfort.
 "Why don't you get married?" mischiev- ously asked a young lady of ratheu elderly bachelor friend, the other day. "I have, for the last ten years, been trying to find some one who would be silly enough 10 have me,' was the reply. "I guess you haven't been up our way" was the insinuating and heart finttering rejoinder. The last we saw of Benedict, he was going "up our way" with a swfiness of foot and determination of pur-, pose that indicated in him fixed resolution to conquer or die." "-Boston Transcript.
 We know of no greater exhibition of pa- iicnce, than that of loafer stretched upon the Battery watching two blades of grass, 10 see which grows the fastest.
 Hung the Gate on t'other Post-We were much struck with the force of the above ag- ricultura simie as used by farmer in our community, who heretofore has given his support to the Van Burcn party. In speak, ing of the present times, he admitted that there was something wrong in the way in which the government has been administered for the last few years, and without saying. that he had changed his political principles, still insisted that there ought to be change in our rulers and tho manner in which he justified his intention to vote for general IIar-. rison at the coming election, we think ought 10 have it's due effect upon the minds of all