Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1871-04-08
PoLITENESS.


The word polite, taken from the
Latin polio, to polish, means literally
smooth and glossy, and was formerly
used only in this sense. Newton
speaks of "a polite surface" meaning
one agreeable to the sight aud touch,
from Its evenness and polish. Although
this meaning Is now obsolete, its signi-
ficancs Is but transferred from material
objects to character. As formerly, 1t
deals only with surfaces ; it does not
penetrate beneath that which comes
merely into contact with the sight and
touch of others. 1t is true that 1t Is
the recognized fruit of kindness and
benevolence, and that n heart attuned
to others BY goodwill and generous
emotions will find its natural express
sion, not only In kind actions, but also
In those lesser acts Of civility and cour-
teousness which are so pleasing that 1t
Is not strange that they are often coun-
terfeited. And, although we are not
TO confound the fruit with the tree that
bears it, or the polished surface with
the firm substance which 1t covers,
neither may we, on this account, de-
spise the fruit because it Is not the tree,
or scorn the glossy surface because it
Is not the substance. 1t Is n common
error to undervalue n polite bearing
and courteous manners, because they
thus form. as it were, the supcrStratum
of character, and can be countcrfeited
with tolerable eXactneSs. Some we'll
meaning persons actually repress their
natural geniality and cultivate n cold
and forbidding manner, lest they should
be thought guilty Of weakness or arti-
ficiality. That such make a sad mis-
take Is evident when we look OH the
effects Of their conduct. In the family,
the workshop, the store or the office,
they are alike either feared for their
austerity or disliked for their rudeness.
Even truly benevolent actions, when
performed In an u~ngracious manner,
lose more than half their charm, and
10 expensive charity or material sacri-
fee will incite the gratitude 1t de-
serves, when unaccompanied by the
cordial grasp, the sympathetic smile,
the encouraging word Of cheer, that
fall like sunshine upon the heart. The
power Of manner Is so great that as a
general thing it may be affirmed that
we value more what our friends feel
for US than what they do for IL, and
the former Is only revealed through
their outward demeanor. PoliteneSS
Is, however, moro frequently violated
through the lack of that goodwill that
Is its true source, than from any dis
dain Of its superficlality. Especially
In business relations, or where no spe-
cial ties Of friendship exist, it is too
common to see even the ordinary rules
Of civility Sc. at naught, and the in
difference that Is felt openly mani
tested In the rude stare, the contempt
nous sneer, or the petty acts Of mean
ness that betray the selfishness within.
Daily Is this seer Ill the street and the
store, In the car and the Office. In
stead Of the hearty goodwill that
should reign and render c~heerfully and
gracefully those little acts Of courtesy
and good breeding that r so easily
bestowed, and yet give so much plea
sure, there Is the gloomy frown, the
disobliging manner, the curt reply, the
selfish appropriation Of little comforts,
regardless Of how much more they may
be needed by others. AS n mere mat
ter Of policy, politeness is most valua-
BILE; but when it comes to be an index
to the feelings beneath, it has n deep
significance. II Is Il mistake to sup
pose that all cultivation Of n polite and
courteous manner Is but an imitation
of true goodwill and kindness. 1t is
often the very best way Of improvinga
disposition or Strengthening n virtue
to put into constant exercise the out
ward acts Of which they are the natural
source. He who would increase his
courage must face danger, though he
tremble ; he who would learn patience
must cease ~murmuring; he who would
be generous In heart must make sacri-
fees. So If We would acquire that
geniality Of feeling and intrinsic kind
ness and goodwill which flowers out
into pleasant deineanor and courteous
bearing, let us begin by trimming our
selves to the amenities Of life, that cost
80 little and are worth so much. Ii Is
customary to say that politeness costs
nothing. This is not strictly true if
1t were, Its value would be diminished.
1t costs constant guard over our tenn
pers and moods, it costs an effort to
subdue irritability and fretfulness, it
costs car and thoughtfulness for the
pleasure and comfort of others, and a
willingness to make sacrifices of our
own. But while these costs are thrilling,
compared with the happiness they COIL
fer OH others. they also doubly enrich
and improve ourselves. Every honest
effort to do right elevates the character
and increases the happiness of him who
makes 1t, and the more the effort has
cost, the greater will be the recon-
pense.
CHALLENGE AcCErTED.-It Is said
that Frank Wheeler tRedl has SHE'D
hi, "a stor 10 BinlsllpS chlllen9e TO