Eastern times., 1855-03-29
MANNERS.

, VI OhdIdcter, Dy MARY IT, CHdhoieA
MANNERS.
Manners are the most external manifesto
tion by which men display their individual
peculiarity of mind and heart; and unless
used artifcially to conceal the true character,
they form : transparent medium through
which it is exhibited,
1t has been sarcastically asserted, that few
persons exist who can afford to be natural ;
and it is probable that if the human race were
to allow their manners TO be perfectly natural;
that is, were they to allow all the passions of
the soul to display themselves without restraint
In their manners, social intercourse would be-
come insupportable.
Among the merely worldly, the difference
between an ill-bred and a well-bred person is
that the former displays his discomfort, i'll
humor, or selfishness in his manners, while
the latter conceals them all under veil of
suavity and kindness. Selfshness prompts
the one to be rude, and the other to be hypo-
critical, and each is alike unworthy of COM
mendation.
Manners are the garments of the spirit; the
external clothing Of the being, in which char
acter ultimates itself If the character be
simple and sincere, the manners will be at one
with it will be the natural outbirth of its
traits and peculiarities. If it be complex and
selfseeking, the manners will be artificial,
affected, or insincere. Some persons make
up, put on, take off, alter or patch their man
ners to suit times and seasons, with as much
facility, and as little apparent consciousness
of duplicity, as if they were treating their
clothes in like fashion. If an individual of
this class is going to meet company with
whom he wishes to ingratiate himself, he puts
on his most polished manners, as matter of
course, just as he puts on his best clothes;
and when he goes home, he puts them off
again for the next important occasion. For
home use, or for associating with those about
whose opinion he is Indifferent, no matter how
rude the manners, or how uncared for the cos
tune. Perhaps the rudeness may chance to
come out in some overt act that will not bear
traitor utters an excuse me- that reminds one
of bright new patch set upon an old faded
3 garment. Not that such patch is unworthy
of respect when worn by honest poverty, and
set on with neatness that makes it almost
ornamental. This is like the excuse me- of
a truly well-bred man apologizing for an of
fence he regrets while the excuse me- of
the habitually rude man is like the botched
patch of the sloven or beggar, who wears it
because the laws of the land forbid nakedness.
The fine lady of this class may be polished
TO the last degree, when arrayed in silks and
laces she glides over the rich carpets of the
drawing-room and yet, with her servants at
home, she is possibly less the lady than they
or worse still, this fine lady, married, per-
haps, to fine gentleman of character smi-
lar to her own, in the privacy of domestic life
carries on civil war with him, in which all
restraint of courtesy is set aside.
There is SO much undeniable hypocrisy in
the high-bred courtesy of polished society,
that among many religious persons there has
come to be an Indifference, nay. almost an op-
position, to manners, that SAVIOR of elegance
or courtliness. If, however, Christian chari-
ty reign within, rudeness or indifference can
not reign without. One may well look for
healthy physical frame under skin revolt
ing from disease, as for a healthy moral
frame under manners rude and discourteous !;
for manners indicate the moral temperament
quite as accurately as the physical tempera-
ment is revealed by the complexion. Selfish
ness and arrogance of disposition express
themselves in Indifferent, rude, or overbear-
ing manners; while vanity and insincerity
are outwardly fawning and sycophantic. If
Christian charity reign in the heart, it can fit
]y express itself only in manners of refine
ment and courtesy and the Christian should
not be unwilling to wear such manners in all
sincerity, because the wordling assumes them
wisdom ever pays virtue the compliment of
limitation but that is no good reason why vir-
tue should hesitate to appear like herself
The best manners possible are the simple
bringing down of the perfect law of charity
unto the most external ultimates of social life
Until character tends at all times, and in all
places, and towards all persons, to ultimate
itself in manners of thorough courtesy, it is
not building itself upon sure foundatlon.-
The ultimates of all things serve as their ba-
sis and continent therefore must true chari-
ty of heart be built upon and contained within
true charity of manner.
When we are in doubt regarding the value
OF any particular trait of character, we can
generally find the solution Of our difficulty BY
working out an answer to the question, How
does it affectour usefulness in society1 There
are three modes in which we exnress our-
selves towards those with whom we come in
contact in the family and social relations of
life,-action, conversation, and manners
The importance of ordering the first two of
these expressions Alright can hardly be doubted
by any thinking being but that conscience
has anything to do with manners would prob
ably be questioned by many. Let US ascer
tain the moral bearing OF manners by the ties
just indicated.
n What effect have our manners upon our use