Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-12-08
How to he Polite.

The basis Of all true poiteness is Kindness.
All politeness should be real, and from the
heart If you constantly strive to reason
away your prejudices against people you
will bccome polite. Most of our dislikes
have veiyfittle foundation. A large pro-
portion of them spring from idle gossip,
from fancied sights, or from trials of our
temper which we could very easily forgive,
were it really our interest to do so.
But it is always our interest to keep on
the best terms with every one who is not
really bad or disreputable. To do this one
must maintain an unceasng watch over his
or her temper, and suffer no opportunity to
escape, however trifling, of gratifying 9th
ers. If kindness of heart be the first requi-
stir in politeness, it is quite as true that
assiotuity is not less needed.
Politeness is manifested by courteous in
quiries after the friends and families of those
whom you meet and in manifesting a cor
dial interest in them. 1t is shown by de-
voting little space in every letter to ''re-
membranes for friends. 1t is a highly
gratifying form of politeness to write oc-
casionally to all from whom you have re-
ceived kindness which warrant you in so
doing. 1t is polite to conform your dress,
and lin reason) your habits, to the taste or
feeling of whose guest or associate you may
be. 1t is polite and complimentary to in
quire after any one of whose acquaintance
your friend may have reason to be proud
1t is polite, when you are guest, to endeav-
or to enjoy yourself and make others do so.
1t is polite to those who are assembled in
any place, to avoid heated argument, and
all noisy remarks or remarkable conduct.
1t is polite to promptly ask every one to
| take a chair who enters your house or Office,
] i al Il
widely will you extend such courtesies to
thing for another which would crafty him
or her, and is not unreasonable. 1t polite
to make no allusion to age. 1t is polite to
spare people older than yourself, and wo-
men Of any age, any exertion or personal
effort even in the merest trihes. 1t is po-
lite to take no notice whatever Of accidents
or annoying occurrences, unless by so doing
you can be of assistance. 1t is polite to
make ready ard unstudied sacrifices Of your
exertion or ofyour comfort to crafty Others
as, for instance, to always escort any lady,
or do service for a friend. 1t is polite to
suppress your peculiar tenets in religion or
politics before those who differ with you
1t is polite to never take it upon yourself in
any way to punish any person, unless it be
distinctly your business to do so. 1t is po-
lite to avoid practical Jokes. 1t IS polite
when you have offended any one, or hurt his
feelings in any way, to apologize for it, as
clearly as possible, without reservation or
excuse, since the more vulgar man is, the
more does he obscure and degrade an apol-
ogy by self-justifcation. 1t is polite to ex-
press an interest in or admiration of that
which is dear to others. 1t is sometimes
more polite to accept gift of a courtesy,
especially from humble people than to refuse
it; and it is polite to show the utmost kind
ness and courtesy to those who have been
reduced by adversity. And it is something
more than polite to interpose and shield
another person from modification, wounded
self-respect, and loss of dignity.