Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-09-25
Hailg S'ir9iaiau.
Good Manners Their want and their In
huence

fuence.
There are not n few who are accustomed To as
socatc Tho idea Of politeness with pretcnsion and
hypocrisy. and this erroneous opinion sxerts All
unfortunate influence upon the manners and 40
cinl bearing of millions. l say unfortunate inAu-
encc. for the reason that every cause of coarse
ness and vulgarity deserves to be deeply deplor-
ed
Few charncterstics ara worthy of higher esti-
nation than true pn,cncss, dignlfed and gcuteel
department Aud that nonc should mistake my
intention let me remark that Ivy the term polite
ncss mean something FAR ighor and nobler than
may seem TO attach to the idea. There il. much
that passes with the Ignorant and dishonest po-
litencss which deserves not tho name. nnd should
find no advocate among sober and intelligent pco-
pie. To bow with grace and smile with complai-
sancc, To assume u manner OF suavity and kind
ncss which has no hencyolcnce, no heart in it. To
nut on tho manner courteous bearing merely to
serve purpose. and to lay II aside when the oc-
rnsion thnt called it forth was passed by, ia tho
mere conntcrioit of tho manners of the woll bred
and gcn'cel society. Dancing masters. fops and
ilirs may bc excused for the practice of this spu-
rous Ny Of politcnoss. but TINT which rcspecta-
blc and intelligent people should possess. and
which should DO taught in all our schools, il IA
unlike this no gold is unlike its cheapest counter
felt. II has its origin in the heart. II is the de-
veopmcnt aud exercise Of outward manifestation,
tho practical application of the roy val law, "What-
socvrr We would that men should do To you, do
You even to them" Az we wish others to treat
ns with kind respect. showing regard for our
respect, showing II regard for our feelings and a
desire for our happincss, NO should be our manner
toward them This spirit will over induce renu.
inc courtesy and pltrncss nsn oharactcrstic Of
human intercourse. And tho possession and OK
ercse of this spirit among all people, would go far
to induce tho highest well-bsng Of society. Dis
senson, strife. bitterness, and numberlcss other
sources Of misery. would seldom xrise.
But the tendency ofthings Mt the present dny, ,is
not in thu direction of this tcmpcr and tone Of
hearing but decidedly tho reyerse
And i, this respect. as IN regard 10 health there
maniicstly hns been rnpid progress in the wrong
direction during the las, twenty wears
Phreuolorists affirm TINT the organ of rcycrnnco
il much less prominently dcvcloped unon tho era.
min of our Youth than upon those of their pnrcnts
However this may be. it requires but little inycs
tiration tn mako the discovery TINT Young America
acknov lodges no superors within the circle of his
nca,,nintnnce lie hns heard so much nonsense in
regard to the unparnllclcd greatness md glory of
tho American peoplr their wisdom and provess
their ynst and overwhelming sureriority to nil
other nations. thnt he hns como to tho absurd con-
clusion that "Wo are the peope and wisdom will
die with us" And unfortunately for him. be bns
in some way d~iuced tho conclusion. TINT among
nil tho thirty millions of wise mon and heroes. who
make up this great milton, no ono il quito 80 wise
md heroic ns his own individual self This eleyn.
,eJ .nlc,s,,m,i;n, land. him. ,n ,oLc an o;r. rn,
nj MI oxnress;yc If rrsncet far tho on;n;on. or
others To ,rcn, them Jcfercn,;sily would no tn
trent himself with ind,pnity. This temper of no.
cessity lends TO conrscncss md ruen ess OF bearpy
To gross violations Of all the principles of true
c',,r,csv IF ,,nnm;,c n"l;tsncss
In rcr,rd ,o ,h;s mattcr thc ,.bool. or o,r land
b,yn mot hecn fanl,lcss The new ,are Of Of tcach.
ers @ doubtless have dnn. much to foster thi. evil,
peonlc wb, orc now Erty X.ars or moo verv
,,., romen,hor th., i; thar school d,v. A. nr.c.