The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1857-11-09
PoIiteness of Hugh Miller.

PoIiteness of Hugh Miller.
But, perhaps, of all we can say in
praise Of Hugh Miller, the highest COM
pliment, all things considered, is the last
we are to pay him. 1t is, that he is in
the best sense, a gentleman; that he is
truly and strictly polite. We intend, by
this, very high praise indeed; true polite
ness is one of the rarest things. The
word has been variously defined. We
have heard it indicated as being know
ledge of the little usages of society, such
as not pouring tea into a saucer, not
speaking in company without an intro
duction, and such like, and the habit of
strictly and naturally conforming to
such. This requires no refutation !; its
very utterance, on the principle that
in speaking of thing you set in the fore
ground your main idea regarding it, i'm
plies hopeless ignorance of the nature Of
true politeness.
''The churl in spirit, howe'er he vail
His want in forms for fashions sake,
Will let his churlish nature break
At seasons through the gilded pale"
True politeness may be met in the hut
Of the Arab, in the courtyard of the Turk,
in the cottage of the Irishman, and is ex-
cessively rare in ball rooms. 1t is indie
pendent of accent and of forms; it is one
of the constant and universal noble attri-
butes of men, wherever and howsoever de-
veloped. 1t has been defined again, "per-
feet ease, without vulgarity or affecta-
tion." Here, manifestly, great advance
is made; one-half Of politeness is correctly
defined. Yet we think there is overlook
ed that part of politeness, which refers to
others besides ones self; and politeness, as
it consists wholly in certain dealing of
man with man, must include both parties
in its reference. The truly polite man is
not merely at ease, but always sets you
at ease. We venture to define it thus -
Politeness is natural, genial, manly defer
ence, with natural delicacy in dealing
with the feelings of others, and without
hypocrisy, sycophancy, or obtrusion.-
This, we thing, is at once sufficiently in
elusive and exclusive. 1t excludes great
many.
We cannot agree that johnson was po-
lite; that is, if politeness is to be distin-
guished from nobleness, courage, and ev-
en- kindness of heart; in word, from ev-
erything but itself Burns was polite,
when iewelled duchesses were charmed
with his ways. Arnold was polite, when
the poor woman felt that he treated her
as if she was lady; Chalmers was polite,
when every old woman in Morningside
was elated and delighted witha courteous
salute. But johnson, who shut a civil
mans mouth with, "Sir, perceive you
are vile Whig;" who ate like an Esqui-
maux, who deferred so far to his friends,
that they could differ with him only in
round-robin, was not polite. Politeness
is the last touch, the finishing perfection of
a noble character. 1t is the gold on the
spire, the sunlight on the cornfeld, the
smile on the lip of the noble knight low
ering his sword point to his ladye-love.-
1t results only from the truest balance
and harmony Of the soul. We assert
Hugh Miller to possess it.
A duke, in speaking to him, would
know he was speaking to man as indie
pendent as himself; boy, expressing to
him an opinion, would feel unabashed
and easy, from his genial and unostenta-
tious Difference. He has been accusted of
egotism. The charge is a serious one !;
fatal, if it can be substantiated in any of
fensive degree, to politeness. And let it
be fairly admitted that he knows his
name is Hugh Miller, and that he has a
colossal head and that he was once a ma
son his boible is probably that which
causes Napoleon, in company of Kings,
to commence an anecdote with-"When
was lieutenant in the regiment of La
Fere." But we cannot think it more
than a very slight foible; manly self
consciousness somewhat in excess.
His autobiography has been blamed as
egotistic we think without cause. The
sketches appear to us much the worse
They are almost entirely what he has
seen; what he has done or borne is no.
wise protruded. And shall we blame a
man with the eye and. memory of Hugh
Miller for leading us through the many
scenes of scottish life, which he knows
better than any man, because he does so
in very natural and orderly way p
Wherever he is egotistic, he is not so in
conversation-the great test of the polite
man. Years in the quarry have not dim
med in Hugh Miller that finishing CLEAN
of genial light which plays over the frame
work of character, and is politeness. Not
only did he require honest manliness fol
this; gentleness was also necessary. Ht
had both, and has retained them, and s.
merits fairly,
| Tbo nj nf