The Hillsborough recorder., 1857-05-13

sually his friends who are sufferers; il he
drinks he has lucid intervals; but when he
has reached the climax Of social turpitude
he is uncivi to everybody in general. and
to his friends in particular. No wonder
that a sensitive man like De Quincy con-
siders this the acme of moral obliquity.
II il we're easier to be ursine than urbane
it would not surprise US that the indolent
preferred the rough to the smooth but COM
mon sense and all experience show that the
easier is the polite way. Ii it were cheaper,
in these dollar and cent days, that we're
some excuse for want OF courtesy. But the
Yankees--good authority in such matters
have proverb that polIteness costs nothing,
and is therefore a most excellent kind OF
small currency. 1t goes for change for
dollar in small dealings, as civil retailers
know, and will readily procure hundred
cents to him who dispenses it; while the
curt dealer demands seven levies, and does
not even obtain that lesser price. In large
bargains it is worth about the same ratio,
twelve per cent, equal to one per cent.
month--no small premium for purely credit
capital. We were about to write fictitious,
but the casuists would pick hole in our
argument. True politeness is not fictitious.
It is simply sunshiny habit Of looking and
speaking, arising from a heart will ng To
take the whole world in. Silence, YOU cav
iller! We don't mean take in, as you pre-
4 tend to understand il. Evidently you are
one Of the crusty sort; but politeness never
beggared any one, while rude manners have
spoiled many fortune in the getting.
The other offence which De Qaincey puts
in the same grade of evil, procrastlnation,
is essentially impoliteness. We are so con-
! nected with each other, in all our relations
Of society and business, that the unpunctual
man or woman is pepper in every body's
eyes and ice in every ones coffee. To wait
for one who is always behind, and to find
that engagement unfuflled by another on
which your arrangements depend, are among
the crying evils OF human life, the worst
/ kind OF miseries; because, while to endure
them does not get you any credit for mar
|, tyrdom, they are really the Peine forte II
durc of social torture. We are not sure
that even the polite man is required to pre-
serve his urbanity under such infections; /;
! but then, if he does not, the worst is his own
, To do the right thing, at the right time, and
, in the right manner, is the height OF human
/ excellence, and whoever reaches il is entitled
to the utmost courtesy from all whom he en-
counters. We can think OF nothing better
than this as within the power Of one man to
do for another, or for community to be-
, stow upon its Gyorite. Triles make the
. sum of life, and if tho separate items are
pleasant, the aggregate IS certainly 50.
, He gives twice who gives quickly, says
the proyerb, and there IS the same advantage
in punctual pay. We are expected-and
at this season in an especial manner--bOth
to pay our debts and to give our charities.
The first are imperative, II within the COM
pass Of possibility; the second have an ac-
solute claim oniy when the iirst are met
except for such things as we may give with
out imparing our rower 8 !ay. Articles
with which we can dispense, and which do
. not rule under the head Of assets, should be
given to the needy instead Of boarded The
partly worn clothing and other commodities,
defaced but really not impaired, which are
lying idle through mere thnughtlessness, II
drawn from their corners and distributed 70
those who need them, would alleviate much
suffering among the poor. The organized
means Of applying such gifts offer the best
opportunity to those who have not the. let.
sure 10 search out cases Of distress, or TO
investigate such as present themselves for
reiief. The most imp0rtunate claims for
assistance are usually neither the most ne
cessitous nor the most worthy.
But about settling ones debts there is no
need to call in the aid Of any outside adti-
sers. We know what we eve, and whom ;
or, if we do not, are in fair way, about
this time," as the almanacs say, to find out.
The surest way Of DONG good with our
money is to meet our engagements, aud par.
ticularly such sums as are due 70 small
tradesmen and dealers whose ability to pay
depends upon the punctuallty Of TIER Gus
toners. L1borers Of al classes and II bo'h
sexes should especial, he considered, and
no small accounts left dn.ci'ica. BN pfampt-
ness in meeting little afairs, nui uhls afe ;hg
heavier operations q commerce facilitated
but the amount Of paapcrism and suffering
is lessened so that 10 the enI punciuallt.,
in business becomes lhe most effective u
. charities. He whose b.lis receivable arc al
il cashed, has power 20 b. just and aL.hiy L
|. be generous. Where tle iibtrer j. neithcl
If defrauded OF his hlre nor DELAYED 10 recelt,
y ing il, wan. is kept from his door aud ;
|. strict system Of cash de4l ng ii petty trans
n actions, is one Of the best and sulesi pre-
IS yentiyes Of pauperism; for It Is upon thes'
a seemingly unimportant things that larg'
,r class depend for livelihood. Man! paape
4 might heartily agree To De Ounces scal'
|. Of progressive CRIME Tor poverty Prodnse'
y by the want Of punctualty seems TO ihUs'
j. who suffer worse than murder.
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