Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-12-03
Hints on Personal Habits.


lowed it may be with many Of the hest op.,i.
ties OF Heart and Head, who all through life.
labor under disadvantage, and often fail to
md FAVOR. and make friends among people. I'm
consequence Of some foolish, thoucbtless do.
feet in their personal manner. Their habits
taken by themselves do not seem to be Of much
consequence. hardly worth mentioninc. We,
taken in the aggregate. they are really Of =.
serious nature. Many a person has of,en
through iio failed in some undertaking. from
being unable to overcome. or from ignorance
OF possessing some Of those disayreesble habits
creating everywhere they 20 among the very
people they care most to conciiate, a preiudice
against them. A shrug Of the shoulder, curl
oil the lip, blink Of the eye, a harsh tone Of the
voice it may be-.
Ii may seem At first that society was unjust
10 give prominence TO 50 small a matter. bu,
Its mandates are memorable, As il is right tina,
II should be 80. So dependent are we upon
each other in the various associations Of life.
mat It's members are bound 10 cultivate the
little courtesies and amenities Of life. tina, 90
80 far to distinguish the well-brcd. from the
ill-bred. People are thus personally held &C
counfabie that the recognized taste may not be
'iolenti. onended,-(of course we are not now
speaking OF physical defects which entitle the
subject TO our pity.
n siouching gait, scuffing feet, twitching the
clothes, teaused often by ill-fitting clothes, the
fault OF the tailor and boot-makerl. yawning.
splitting, picking the nose. turning under the
hair, fwirling the moustache. and such like
habits-some Of them contracted in childhood
Some Of the most common and 10 a culti-
waited person the most disagreeable, and annov-
ing of all, are the table habits, those con-
nec'ed with eating and drinking. Perhaps the
disgusting sound many make with every spoon
full Of soup or other liquid, caused by not OPEN
ing the mouth, or taking in the breath at the
wrong time, then afterward sucking and pick
ing the teeth at the table, hurrying, greedy
manners, stopping the drink. leaving little
about the plate. Bad table habits, fear. are
the most common Of any. especially among us
Americans. Others, such rs drumming on the
chair, beating time with the feet, talking to
ones self. rocking back and fro on the legs of
the chair, such as these generally show a
'scui,y Of mind: may be classed under habits
Of thoughtlessncss.
To delicately organized person, the way
that many have Of doing everything in the
most noisy manner, shutting the door with a
bang. moving the chair with a slam, ringing
the door-bell with might and main. aud 80 on
I'D iibiHm. No matter where they go. or
what they do, they are followed by din"
! have spoken Of enough for nv object. ex-
oept may allude TO the. So rery common,
practice Of repeating some particular word. or
words. which perhaps this anccdotc will bet
ter illustrate.
gentleman got in the habit Of saving
''re-dilg,' becoming obnoNiou. to his friend
who went TO labor with him. do you know
said he. "tha; everybody complains Of ihl. habit
of YOUR" Looking up at hi, friend moment
he drawled out do they, ready" You
must leave IT Of II teiH. really" For
Heavens sake. don't saw that again. il an
noys me" lie looked up and sadly smiled. and
in the most unoon>ciou. manner. aid. '.re-dl-
iy.'
think among u the habit Of using the
words ''yon ksOt-," i the most common.
These habit- Of which have spoken are
people OF 4 sluggish temperament, whose
nerves are well nouri-hcd. and covered with
fat. are not 50 susceptible. But happily. or
unhappily, all are not 80 constituted, large
Of Us (even in health have sensitive
nervous systems. and I hope, are fortunate
enough 10 have acquired more or les Of what
We term good-breediRg.
Gainsay IL as we NAV, We are al more or less
susceptible 10 hrst impressions, and prcju-
dice thus acquired. i hard 10 overcome
Many young man las l could relate insiance.l
owe isri, suSSrs- Ia, life thsir first i'm pres
sion.
would impress upon all 10 examine and
watch themselves, but more particularly upon
parents and TEACHERS, TO pay greater attention
TO this matter OF personal habits. In youth j.
the time 10 make those ways or manners, thai
will decide the future "Pcrsoncl" Of the man
or woman. FREEMAN ii. CHASE. NJ. u.
orand, Nov. -, ls7l.