The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-08-29
Good Manners u Duty.

SS4.t Good MHSSn&rS u Duts.
fBy Henry Ward Beecher.j
Men often speak Of good manners as an
accomplishment. fspeaS of them as q duty.
What, then, ere good mannerss sucn man,
rlers as the usages of society have reco2n'Aeo
as being agreeable to men. Such manners
as take away ,rudeness, and REM. W s.e
brute creation all coarseness. ineie a.e
a great many who feel that aoou n.ip. a,,as
are etfeminate. They hayesa feeling thai
rude blnnt,,ess Is a great deal more manly
than rood manners. 1t is great daa! more
beastly. But when men are crowded IN
communities the art ofitying together is no
small art. How TO- diminish friction, no"
10 promote ease OF Intercourse, how 10 MAKE
every part of mans life contribute 10 tue
welfare and satisfaction Of those around MIN,
how 10 keen down offensive PRIDE how TO
han,sb the raspinys of selfishSess from the
ip,er,ourse of men, bow to move among
men ipspircd BY various and conflicting mo.
tjyes. and vet not have collisions--tfS Is
the fuuction Of good manners.
I. Is not effemnate to be refined; and IL
this land no man should plead inability.
There may be peasantry in other countries.
there NAV be class in foreign lands VINO
have no opportunities, there may be those
whose toll is so continuous, whose opportu.
mites for knowing what constitutes good
manners are so few, and whose ignorance j.
80 gross TINT they are eXcusable; but TINS u
not the case with any within the sound OF
INV voice.
That man is mechanic is no reason why
he should not be perfect gentleman. al
firm for every American citizen the right TO
be not simply man, but good-maHncred
man. ! have seen men ut the anvil VINO were
as perfect gentlemen as men OF DOCKS OF so
cety. ! know no reason why man VINO
fans hides should not be gentleman. l
know no reason why man who Digs 10 the
soil, man who works in metals and WOODS,
man who builds, should not be periec
gentleman. There is nothing in mechanical
occupations which is Incompatible with the
highest courtesy.
Not only is the violation Of good manners
inexcusabie on ordinary grounds, but it is
sinful. When, therefore. parents and guar
dians and teachers would Inspire the young
with desire for the manners Of good socl'
ETY., 1t is not to be thought that they are ac-
conipliShmepts which may be accepted or
rejected. Every man is bound TO observe
the laws of politeness. 1t is the expression
of good will and kindness. IL promotes
both beauty in the man who possesses 1t,
and happiness in those who are about him.
II is religious duty, and should be part OF
religious training.
There is great deal OF contempt expressed
for what is called etiquette in society. NOW
and then there are elements Of etiquette
which perhaps might well be ridiculed; but
il the main there is a just reason for nll
those customs which come under the head OF
etiquette. There is reason which has re-
gard to the facility of intercourse. There is
q reason in the avoidance OF offence. Ihere
Is reason in comfort and happiness. And
no man can afford to violate these unwritten
customs of etiquette who wishes to act as
Christian gentlemen.
NAV spC ak, also, of tendency which Is
bred by our in>titutions-the want Of vene-
ration. There are various ways IN which
this want of veneration shows itself. we
often hear that there is not the same respect
shown for the aged that there used to be. we
know that there is very little respect shown
tor magistrates and men in authority. This is
partly due. think, to the institutions under
which we live. One of the unfortunate effects
derived from the early stages of democratic
training is the sense of personal sovereignty
the feeling that we stand on as high ground
a. any body else. Under monarchica institu-
tons men are taught to revere the great
and glorious in government. The feeling OF
reverence does not prevail to any great ex'
tent among Us. ] discern Il great lack ip
this respect. Children, nowadays, are
brought up to be pert, to be saucy, to be al.
most without restraint. They are brought
up to have very little regard either for their
parents or for their superiors. And although
there are u great many Christian households
where children are rightly bred in this re-
gard, it seems TO me there has been decay
of that instruction which used to prevail,
the tendency of which was to make children
modest and respectful. We bring up our
children to be old and smart and imperti-
Dent.
This courtesy, which carries with it re-
spect; this testimony OF veneration to the
aged; this yielding oneself in thousand
little society rites for the sake of making
others happy-oh, what brightness it gives
10 life What beauty, what adOrnment it
gives 10 Christian character!
There are many other points that might
speak OF. The effect of punctuality and
order, the relations which men sustain TO
each others convenience and necessities
these and hundred other branches of this
subject | might discourse upon, but it is not
necessary that / should go into them. |
have given such examples us / have merely
as specimens, for the purpose Of calling your
attention to the minuteneSs and carefulness
with which the Scripture inculcateS these
things. 1t epjOins not merely the right
spirit, but the right spirit manifested in the
most beautiful way.