Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1865-12-08
NATURAL POLITENESs.

graceful polish of manner, which may
mako them winning and attractive in So
ciety; but it is to bo feared that we seldom
go to tho root of. the matter, and search
out the workings Of this great motive pow
or Of conventional life. Is there such a
thing rs natural politeness9 and if so, is it
like some thing scattered gifts, only inher-
tied hy the few, while the less favored
| masses are, Of necessity, left to their native
rudenesss like diamonds in tho rough
We think not, and hope We may be able
to show that this charming suavity of
manner is within the power of all to at
tain, and that mothers, in the early train
ing Of their children, have very much to
90 with the cultivation Of it.
Natural politeness, them reduced to its
elements, consists in desire to please, or
dislike to hurt the feelings Of others,
which includes all the emotions o. holy
charity and.acts Of heroic self.dcnial that
have at any time exalted man above the
brute creation. lie who is habitually seT-
fish and narrow in his impulses of benevo-
lence and kindness, may be arti6cialIy po-
lite in the circle in which lie moves; but it
is at homo and when off his guard that the
mask is laid aside, and he is. beheld in ali
his native deformity. TO such one po-
liteness is ea6nt not second nature.
Instances are not uncommon in this
country, and IN the present age, Of u want
Of due attention to tho feelings and COM
fort of others. There is certain Jrusque.
ness, or sturdy independence, in the ma
tional character, which is fostered by the
very appliances of wealth and luxury that
should add to its refinement. In former
days, when travelling by steam, either on
rail or ocean, was unknown, and the sa,no
company was packed in crowded stage
coach for painfully long journey over the
mountains, or cast upon its own resources
during tedious voyage across the At!an:
tic, each mutually exchanged the Offices of
good fellowship and courtesy; and in this
manner friendships were often formed that
endured for lifetime.
Now, who looks for politeness Or f,iendIi-
ness lin an omnibus or a railroad car, unless
from the man or woman who has been
habituated from childhood to be kind,
graceful, and unselfisb, until to be other
wise would infiict wound upon their own
sensitive natures, more than it would Of
fend others? When we SEQ welLmeant
civilities unacknowledgcd, except by a
fashionable stare or repulsive frown, or
mark the distinction conferred upon dress
and .cquipage, while elderly plain persons
are shrunk from, as if they carried con-
tamina:lon in their skirts, we may conclude
that the offending parties have MOTTO use
a. common phrase-beon "brought up
right" although they may be considered
in their own circle as the creme de la creme
the very elite of society-and be well
versed in all the airs and graces of Ches.
tcrfieldians, or artificial politeness.
That was lovely little girl, who, when
attending General Washington to the door
Of her fathers mausion, being told by the
great man-"My dear, I wish you better
office than to let me out" answered sweet
eyes, cir, to let you in" What grace
ful reply full Of all the nobility Of na!u-
raj, aud, therefore, true, poiiteness.
And when we see in the streets come
fine, manly lad, not ashamed to stop and
help the trembling fingers of an aged fruit
seller arrange the little store which his
rude companions have purposely displaced,
or stoop to raise some fallen little. some, and
listen 10 its tale Of childish griefs, we are
sure that home influences have been around
bim>for good, that q gentle mother has
carefully instructed him 10 the great Col
den Rule-the law of perfect charity-and
that the family circle Of which he is a
member ia accu,tomed to the interchange
Of mutual good offices.
Yes, mothers, it is for you to smooth
down these rough points in the dispositions
Of your children; j. is for You 10 foster. this
system of love and kindness, until It be-;
comes ingrown-a second nature--or Whist
is generally termed natural politeness. -- 7:
Essry, mother is anxious that her child
should appear well, make a favorable im>
preston upon strangers, reflect credit up
on her training land 70 attain this -snd
many artificial rules are urged and adopt.