The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1858-03-18
Married Politeness.

kind OF philosophy which comes into every
day requsition. helping to strengthen and
brighten the ties of social affection. in The
subjoined brief article taken from the La
dies Enterprise."1
Will you rsa>ked a pleasant voice.
And the hu,band answered, !" Yes. nv
dear with pleasure"
IL was quietly, but heartily said the tone;
the manner, the look, were perfectly natural
and very affectionate. We thought, how
pleasant that courteous reply. how graiify
ing u must be to tie wife. Many husbands
OF ten years experience are ready enough
With the courtesies of politeness tc the Young
ladies OF their acquaintanc, willie they speak
with abrupiness To the wife, and do many
rude little things without considering them
worth an apology. The stranger, whom
they may have seen but yesterday, is listen.
ed to with Difference, and although the sub.
Ject may not be of the most pleasant nature.
with ready smile; while the poor wife. if
she relates domestic grievance, is snubbed.
or listened 10 with ill.concealed impa,ience
Oil how wrong this is-al wrong.
Does she urge some requests 40. don't
bother mel" cries her gracious lord and
master. Does she ask for necessary funds
Tor Susy's shoes or. Tommy's bat? "Seams
to me you are always wanting money!" is
the handsome retort. Is any little extra dc.
inanded by his masculine appetite, ii is or.
dered. not requested.
Look here, want you to do so and so /:
just see that it's done y and off marches Mr..
i3oor, with bow and smile of gentleman,
ly polish and friendly sweetness for every
casual acquaintance he may CHARGE to re.
cognize
When we meet with such thoughtless ssness
and coarseness, our thoughts revert to the
kind voice and gentle manner of the friend
who said, Yes, my dear-with PLEASURE
beg your pardon" comes rs readily TO
his lips when by any little awkwardness he
has Disconnected her, rs it would in The pres
ence Of the most fashionable stickler for Ell
quette. Thi. IL because he is a thorourh
gentleman, who thinks his wife in all things
entitled 10 precedence. He loves her best :;
why should he hesitate TO show it not i'm
sickly, maudln attentions, but in preferrinr
her pleasure, and honoring her in public As
well a. private. lie knows her worth why
should he hesitate to attest iii And her
husband, he praiselh her." saith Holy Writ !:
not by fnlsome adulation. not by pushing
her charms into notice, but by speaking, AS
opportunity occurs, in manly way, Of her
virtues. Though words may seem little
things, and slight attentions almost valueless,
yet, depend upon ii. they keep the flame
bright. especially if they are natural. The
children grow up in a better moral atmos
phere, and learn TO respect their parents, as
they see them respecting each other. Many
a boy takes advantage of n mother he loves
because be sees often the iudeness of his
fa.hcr. Insensibly he gathers TO his bosom
the same habits, and the thoughts and feel.
ings they eDgender, and in his turn becomes
The petty tyrant. Only his mother why
should he thank her father never does.--
Thus the home becomes the seat Of disorder
and unhappiness Only for strangers are
kind words expressed, and hypocrites go out
from the hearth-stone fully prepared to rem
der justice, benevclence. and pulileneSs to
any one and every one but those who have
the justest claims. All give us the kind
glance, the happy homestead, the smiling
wife and courteous children of the friend
who said 50 pleasantly, Yes my dear
with pleasure ]"
| %DSs