The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-02-20
DYING ADVICE OF THE HON, MIR
SMIRK.

SMIRK.
Simon Smirk was on his death bed
His son Samuel was standing by his side !;
and while he was holding his fathers
hand, his father spoke to him as follows {:
Sammy, l arm dying-at the age Of
fifty-6ve. wish you 10 pay strict a,,en-
ton to my dying advicel"
Father, l will"
"And wish you to follow my advice
after I am Dead"
al will, father"
"Sammy, the neighbors and all my
friends tell me bsvn't an enemy in the
world, and | believe havn't. | want
you to understand why havn't. Its all
owing to policy, Sam; policy, and moth
ing shorter. Whom I was Of your age,
my boy, was as poor as a broken down
village horse, turned out to die. Age
has at last broken me down, but sin't
poor, thank policy! Follow my exam,
pie, and you will become richer by far
than your father, Sammy, and die with
out an enemy, as l do.
Samuel wept, as in duty bound, but
grief and his handkerchief choked his ut
terance, SO he said nothing.
at has always been my policy, resum,
ed the dying Smirk, "to avoid giving Of
fonce to any one. No matter what peo,
pie said or did to me-or any one else
right or wrong-I have always endeavor-
cd to forbenr and submit, wherever
could; to be calm and cautious on all oc.
casions, and to avoid the exhibition Of any
sign OF resentment. BY long experience
in this course, have found that by per-
severing to agree with everybody, skill
fully, is sure eventual guide to univer-
sal popularity"
"But have you never had any Difficult.
ty with any onel'
"Not since was twenty -one, said the
dying man, gasping for breath. Reach
nc little more water, and wet my lips
They are too parched to speak plain
There, there" he added, as hi. son obey
ed him; "that will do, and you shall be
initiated into my invariable and invalua.
bic policy. BE dofcrential, Sam, deferen.
tial, and control your temper, and fstter
whenever you get chanoe-havc a bow,
and smile, and word, and shake Of
the hand for every ybody-mark! for ere.
rydody-and then you will get along"
"But mustn't be friendly 10 villains,
must II"
Friendly! bumph be friendly to
nobcdy-seem so. Villains: they com.
pose two thirds Of tho community, and
are the most influential. As for the 9TH
or third, though it is we'll enough to keep
their good opinion, they arc only subor-
dinate agents in the building up of man,
But don't get sffronted with them. Oh,
no, Sam; never do that! Ncver kick a
dog unless you are sure he hasn't any
owner, then kick away. if you like"
Though his father was dying, Samuel
could not help smiling at this language.
"Thats right" said the cldsr Smirk
IL like that. Smile again. BY smiling
have gained many friend. But be
careful you don't smile at the wrong time.
A smile is powerful weapon, but it mus,
be used with Judgement"
ado you know, Sam, why I was al
ways such favorite with tho women r.
mo, father"
u wss always careful, in the first
place, to feel my way with the women
took care to understand their sentiments,
their particular vanities and hobbies
keeping my own ideas in the back ground,
until l could coincide with theirs. Al
ways took care never to speak disrespset
fully Of the sex. ] never, in tho presence
OF . woman, called woman woman
or female had but one uamo-lades
for all the feminine gender"
"How did you do when they differed,
and asked your opinion 7"
IL would agree with one, and at the
same time wink at tho others silly, as
much as to say 'tis all humbug, what
am saying II = woman was ugly, I'd
praise her intellect. II she didn't know
anything. I'd praise her virtue. In this
way seldom missed the mark; for il is
very seldom thst you fnd woman that
10 ugly. immoral, and fool in the bar.
gain. In fact !. is hard 70 find anybody
who hasu't some good point, OF who ISN'T