The Baltimore County union., 1872-04-20
The Choice of associates.

"Keep good company" says an author, ''and
you shall be one of them" This is better than
the proverb, "a man is known by the company
be keeps" The progerb is superficial. pre-
tender may fost himself upon respectable society
for the reputation it gives him, and for the taci-
ity which such reputation confers for carrying
out purposes anything but good. But the young
man who seeks good associations, and makes
himself worthy OF the society he seeks, is not
merely apparently, but inherently and actually
better. He is one of the ''good company" with
whom he is found
Experience is said 10 give people the faculty of
discerning how to choose friends. Unfortunate
ly for this theory, however, just when young
man most needs the stay and influence OF a good
example, he is least experienced On the Other
and fortunately for the young intuition and
correct moral sense are usually better guides TO
the choice of companions and friends than expe-
rence For knowledge of men and the world is
too often a temptation TO try the experiment how
far aside one may venture and still recover, and
to what extent agreeable but dangerous associ-
ates may be used as the means of amusement or
pleasure. Charity is one thing; toleration of
vice or folly is another and a very different sen-
ment. The worst faults into which young peo-
ple lapse are the effect of tolerance Of what they
| know is wrong. The plausible reasoning of
agreeable people, apt at making the wrong ap-
pear pleasant, is the first introduction OF the
Young TO folly and loose morality. II is not that
those of loose morals and manners set out with
| a desire 10 corrupt others. They commonly aim
TO do no such thing, but are merely Vindica,ing
or excusing themselves; and so far they succeed
in this they make their judges like themselves, by
effacing the distinct line between right and wrong.
| The best experience, and that which only
merits the praise with which experience" is
| mentioned, is found in consistent resistance OF
temptation; impairing TO him who has lis
| strength of moral character. man need not
commit a murder in order TO have horror OF
| murder He has less aversion to blood after than
before be has his best innocence. So it is OF
| other lesser crimes and so of venial faults 1t
need not be expected of young people that they
should set out in life as aggressive moral reform
| ers, declaimers and censors. They are not re-
| uuired TO declare their opinion, or to pronounce
| Judgment upon their fellows. BY silent ooserva-
tion and by following their instincts in favor OF
| good and in avoidance of evil, they can both
protect themselves and influence others. The
power of silent example, especially in the young,
| is much greater than the best efforts of ready
speech from juvenile lips. After the more im-
| portant considerations of the right and wrong
| in morals comes the lesser, but still important
matter Of department. A good department.
modest but not bashful-sef-reliant, but not ob-
trusive-is one Of the things which are not intui-
| tive, and can be acquired only oy intercourse
with s'Qood company" We are not speaking
now of form aud etiquette, which are mere
varnish, in fashion to-day and ont of fashion to-
morrow These trihes ''good company" can af-
ford to rise above. While among sensible people
mere changing fashions are not despised or ne
elected. it is among those who are the exact op-
| Dosite of wise that they most insisted upon
| There is no surer mark OF a mere pretender 10
poltenees than the elevation of small points of
etiquette to importance. True poteuess origi-
mates in the desire to avoid the giving OF pain,
and to promote the comfort Of other people to
put them at their ease, and even to prevent their
consciousness of any little solecism in society
fashions of which they may have been guilty
True politeness is common to all conditions rich
and poor, and is founded on principle Mere
etiquette Is masquerade; especially affected and
| studied in ite minute canons by those who have
part to play, andpossbly something toconcsal.
-Philadslphia Ledger.