Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-03-11
HOSPITALITY.

| UdQQ. UOQ U.eSS uel
HOSPITALITY.
We Americans are not noted for very emil
nent social qualities We are not a remarkably
hospitable people AS a nation, we are still in
the morning of life !; that season of activity and
independence, when the heart is too busy and
too ambitious to devote much time to the plea.
sures of friendship. The yankee has not yet
dined and sat down for an easy after dinner
chat. lie loves conversation, conViviality, com
panionship, as well as any man but he has had
| time as vet only to snatch hasty breakfast; he
| is eagerly earning his dinner, which he means
shall be a good one and will literally invite all
his friends to supper with which pleasant pros
| pect before him, he is perhaps too intently ab-
sorbed in preparing for the generous enjoyments
of the evening of life.
1t is the fault of youth-or is it a merit =
| to anticipate and postpone. The present good Is
never good enough The joys OF to-day are
mean we shall have better tomorrow; and
still better next week, and next year. And so
the golden hours of youth escape us, and we
grow prematurely old Ten to one but we have
become dyspeptic, by the time dinner is ready /;
and when our evening leisure is earned, and our
house set IN order, and our friends arrived, we
find that too much toll and care has destroyed
our capacity for free enjoyment.
Thus industrious forethought, which has its
inestimable uses, is capable of abuse. 1t is like
some excellent medicines; an overdose is hurt
full. And it seems to us that the Yankee has
drunk the contents of the vial, well shaken be-
fore taken. Theedram flies to his head, and he
is slightly tipsy. But let him alone, he will be
wiser some day. He must have his way, and
work out his own salvation. he is no worse
than the rest of the world but he began poor; /;
and, the. school of want las made him ..-s,s-.-
'' Early frugal, like a beggar's child"
His heart is warm and generous; and Il is lack
of hospitality with which he is charged, is the
result of pinching circumstances. lie is con-
scous Of the defect and, ashamed Of it, he
seeks to make amends by excessive display. A
soon as he is ab e, he makes Taste to build him
fine mansion, and invites the world to come
and see it, and drink his champagne, and eat his
ice-creams His tables are loaded his drawing
rooms blaze with gas. But this is not hospital
ity, this is not social enjoyment; he knows it,
and his friends know it but it is munifccnt
apology, and pride, if not love, is satisfied
True hospitality is a creature OF habit and cul-
ture The man who has spent all his days in
counting house, cannot enter splendid parlor:
and make it comfortable to his friends. lie has
an art to learn; and it will take him long to
brush off the dust Of business anu assume The
garments of social ease.
Nor does true hospitality stand greatly in
need of fine mansion, gas-light and champagne
Cordiality and welcome are its essential attrl-
butes We have seen the farmer i'll his homely
kitchen, the mechanic at his simple board, as
broadly and as richly lospitabc as any prince
of the earth. For the gentleman OF fashion and
fortune-lor the owner of large estatcs-for the
master of many servants-lavishnCsS and attcn-
ton towards guests, is matter too cheap to be
boasted of; but the hearts welcome is always
rich-there is nothing so dear and precious; it
is no respector of persons, it requires no letters
Of introduction, no tasman Of aristocratic pre-
tentions but in the face, in the eye, it reads
the name Of brother, and bids him enter, to be
comforted andcheered. This selfforgctfulness,
this ready sympathy, is the secret OF hospitality
and of this there are generous fountains IN the
American heart, waiting for the rubbish OF care,
and ambition, and vanity to be removed.
SAcREDSEss OF TEARs.-There isa sacredness
in tears They arc not tie mark of weakness,
but of power They speak more eloquently
than ten thousand tongues. They are the mes
sensers of overwhelming grief, Of deep contri-
ton, of unspeakable love. If there were want
ing any argument to prove that man is not
mortal, would look for it in the strong, con-
vulsiye emotion of the breast, when the soul
has been deeply agitatcd; when the fountains
of feeling are risng and when tears are gushing
forth in crystal streams. 0, speak not harshly
of the stricken one-weeping in silence! Break
not the solemnity by rude laughter, or intrusive
| footsteps Dcspise not woman's tears-they
are what make her an angel. Scolf not if the
stern heart of manhood is sometimes melted to
sympathy-they are what help to elevate him
above the brute. | love to see the tears of al
feclion. They are painful tokens, but still most
holy. There is pleasure in tcars-an awful
pleasure If there were none on earth to shed
tear for me, should be 10th to live, and if no
one might weep over my grave, l could never
die in peace.
THE righteous man has strong tower that
the sinner lacks. He is fitful to battle with
solitude and fearful darkness; an unseen light
shines in upon his soul-an unseen hand sus-
tans him. The darkness is no darkness 10 him.
for the Sun of righteousness is nigh. In the
deep solitude he is not alone, for good angels
whisper by his side. aYea, though he walk
through the valley of d shadow Of death, yet
shall he fear no evil, for God is with him; bis
rod and his staff they comfort him." The wicked
have not this comfort: to them darkness and
solitude must be too horrible. Satan-not God
is their companion. The ghosts of their past
crimes rise and swell their present horror. Re,
morse and despair are added to the double gloom
of solitude and darkness. You don't know
what you are doing when you shut up poor
lost sinner Of excitablo temperament in that
dreadful hole, (solitary imprisonment 1t is 8
wild experiment on human frame.
1t has often been remarked that children will
frequently ask questions which even the wses1
are puzzled to answer. a..
"MotLer," exclaimed little Charley, chow
big was whsa you vas tittn gia !"