The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-09-14

If he tells me he liked my last literary
effort, feel encouraged, and applaud his
taste il he informs me that am looking
| well, conclude that certain symptoms
were all nervous fancy if he tells me that
he often regrets seeing 30 little Of me,
truly believe that he thinks so at the time.
do not seek to tickle others with false
phrases why should I suspect them Of
being less sincere
of the mouth, not the conventionalities of
the pen. For I own that I am not the
humble servant Of all the correspondents
to whom profess obedience and when I
present my compliments in writing
mean nothing at all, or at any rate am in
By -the-by, have known very young men
who, in answering q first invitation, have
presented their compliments to the lady
who proposed herself their hostess.
And why not If it is a dance, their
legs are required, and legs are compile
machs. Really, the substitution of an sc"
for an "i'' makes the phrase sense, which
it was not before.
But genuine compliment, with a good
foundation of truth, and expressed neatly
aud aptly, is moral bonbon, and whole
course excess in all sweets is cloying.
1t is not everybody, however, who knows
how to manufacture the article, or how to
administer it. If you are any way def
Gent in tact, or given st all to blunder,
you had better let compliments alone alto.
| of your good will; instead of tickling him
as Intended, as the Marquis of Seneterre
stung Poinsinet.
The marquis, whe was blind, went to
hear the opera Of "Enelinde," which caused
q tarore at Paris in the reign of Louis XIV.
and being very much pleased, asked his
attendant who wrote it.
"Monsieur Poinsiaet," was the reply.
81 should like to speak to him." said the
marquis.
SO afterward, in the crush room, Mon
| eieur Poinsinet was introduced to the blind
nobleman, who embraced him with effu-
sion, and said "My dear sir, accept my
afforded me. Your opera is full Of beauty,
the music ia delicious. Oh, what mis-
fortune that you had to set it to such
trashy words ~
Now, unfortunately, it was the Hbresto,
and not the music, OF which poor Monsieur
Poinsiuet was the author.
Louis XIV, who, like many humber
! rhy msters, somewhat overrated his poeti-
cal powers, showed copy Of verses TO
Boileau, and asked his candid opinion Of
them.
"Ah, sire," said the poet, 81 am more
COuSAuCcu GUSu over UuSt uUkuluR 10
possible to your majesty you desired to
write some poor rhymes, and you have sue
ceeded in making them positively detesta-
ble!"
But perhaps there was spice of malice
in this reply though, if 80, Boileau play
ed with edged tools with a vengeance.
The worst blunder in what was intended
for pretty speech that ever 1 heard of,
however, was perpetrated in modern times
by q dignitary of the Church, who was
to marry q young couple in q country
place where he happened to be staying,
and was also called upon to propose the
health of the bride and bridegroom at the
subsequent breakfast.
Now the host and hostess were noted In
the country round as the most genial and
the happiest couple that had ever gone
band-in- hand through life; so the good
divine thought he might as we'll turn this
to account in his speech.
"To sum-up all our good wishes for the
happy pair whom we have seen united this
morning." he said in conclusion, sswe can
not, am sure, do better than express q
desire that the result of their union may
prove strictly analogous to that of the pa
rents of the fair BRIDE"
Whereupon the "fair bride" went into
Mysteries the bridegroom's eyes flashed
daggers; the bridesmaids colored and look
ed down 4; the master of the house blew
his nose violently. He who had caused
all this commotion wisely sat down and
held his peace, wondering at the effect of
his innocent com pliment to the host aud
hostess.
He soon, however, found some one to en-
Tighten him.
r. "Sbe ia not their daughter at ALL" his
informant explained, "but niece who
came to live with them when her own
father and mother were divorced !"