The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1866-09-08
Working Politeness.

omizing the article-something strong and
substantial for everyday use. We can get
plenty of French bows and complimentary
speeches for great occasions-what we need
is the family article
We need IA politeness that is tender and
gentle toward women and little children,
whether they are clad in velvet or rags-a
politeness that does not get behind its news
paper when a shabby female enters a crowded
car-that does not squirt its tobacco juice
over its neighbor and keep its feet in It's
proper place-a politeness that endures dis
agreeable things rather than to complaint
! politeness that is as careful Of other peoples
feelings as Of its own corns? We need
politeness that says Thank you for the
most triflng service, and does not disdian to
| give you pleasant, cheering smile as it goes
| by about its allotted tasks-a politeness that
never oHends a womans ear by coarse word
| or phrase-that takes the baby out of the
| oTerburdened wife's arms, and remembers to
| ask about her overnight headache, and takes
interest IN her little housekeeping cares. a
woman can very well be cross if her hus-
band is oeaselessly polite We require a
poIiteness that sets chair for the weary er-
rand-boy while he is waiting, and does not
disdain to help a crooked old apple-woman
across the road-a politeness that does not
appropriate four seats in a railroad car, and
refrains from going to sleep on the most
comfortable settee in a steamboat Anybody
can be polite on great occasions-it is the
petty incidents of daily life that try mems
soulsl
We require politeness that treats servants
like human beings-that walks in the streets
without staring every other lady out of coun-
tenance-that can endure to bear its trail
ing skirts accidentally stepped on, without
turning or the cuIprit face ike an infuri-
ated Bengal tiger-that does not snatch
coveted piece of goods out of another per-
sons hands at a store, with g III take this p
that does not talk audibly at opera and
theatre, and that refrains from saying in a
loud whisper, after a long inspection of the
lace On the bonnet directly in front, Mere
imitation r We stand in need of polite
ness that says to weary store-clerks, ' am
very sorry to have given you so much trouble'
and does not tell every merchant that she
can buy better goods than his, at less price,
at any other establishment In town We
want a politeness that respects the chfIdren's
little secrets, and sets their baby blunders
right without hurting their feelings-that
sympathizes with the chambermaids S tooth
ache, and speaks word Of pleasant notice
when the cook appears in a new calico dress
with palm leaves rather larger than cauli-
flowers politeness that prefaces every de-
mand to interiors with the magic words, +" If
you viii be so kind" A politeness that does
not say, " It's always just so, when the hus-
band comes home too tired to 90 out for an
evenings amusement and that gets up an
artificial interest in the Congressional debate
that he insists on reading aloud to the family
circle-that never says TO a dear particular
, friend, " Mercy how thin you are getting r
or, Dear mel how very unbeooming that
bonnet is to youI" and listens in heroic
spirit Of seIf-sacrifce to the endless yarns Of
the intolerable old lady who comes to spend
social day" instead of discovering an er-
rand to be done in some other room
We want a politeness that viii make the
bore believe himself the most entertaining
companion in existence-that viii repress
= the wittiest bon, mot for fear it should hurt
the feelings of some obscure guest-that
never repeats q morsel of spicy gossip, and
lat always believes the best until the worst
is proved-a politeness that overlooks an
D army Of faults for the sake Of the one virtue
+. that lies beyond-that looks through awb
ward manners and rude language for the
+ sterling worth underlying them. We need
z a courtesy that sits down by the domesti,
freside to entertain its country cousin az
, willingly as if she were Queen Victoria
T royal self, and never smiles when she eat
T green peas with a knife and drinks her te,
p from the saucer--a courtesy that is perfectl-
r unconscious (apparently) Of rustic phrase
e and atrocious grammar, and immolates itsel
: cheerfully on the shrine Of sightseeing,
i and going trading" during the long, brigh
e days that might be so much more delight
# fully spent We want something that
never for an instant laid aside or forgotten
> the refinement and cultivation Of name
Y that belong only to natures nobility IF yo
y want to judge whether or not man Is reall
Z polite, watch him when he speaks TO an IN
8 ferior, or gives an order to servant If yo
D, would like to know woman's real charac
= ter, observe her at home among her childre
r and domestics. When people go out int
4 the world, they put on their best clothes an
2 most sparkling jewelry-a sort Of ezterna
10 adornment, but it is not every one who think
10 it worth while to observe the "small swee
y countesies Of life in the routine Of every
e day existence.
n If a married man comes home from hi
to daily avocation tired and worn out and ye
% remembers the pleasant " Good-evening t
- his wife, and never grumbles when the te
=, Is smoking and the beelsteak overdone, tho
y is politeness II a single man asks the plaiE
- unattraetive girl to dance at an evening part
= nat Iecarlee he wants the Measure Of Il r0l-