The Hickman courier., 1877-05-25
VOL. XIII. NO Is.

ity are not only promptly answered by
them, but they spontaneously offer such
information as they have to give; and
the foreign traveller records with graft
tude the facility of his iournevings
through all parts of the United States.
aided aud supported as he has always been
by the kindly communication and genial
sympathy of its native inhabitants.
however coarse their exterior and un-
familiar they may be with the conyen
tional forms of manner.
In foreign countries there is great
deal more of the external show OF re-
spect. An American traveller remarked
of a provincial town on the continent of
Europe, where he had occasion TO rest
for some weeks, that the inhabitants
seemed to be SO much occupied with
taking off their hats and putting them
on.again, that he could not conceive how
it was possible for them TO find time TO
do anything else. In fact, this external
ceremony seemed 50 preoccupying and
allab1rbing that the civility which this
was naturally supposed to express was
entirely wanting. The form had taken
the place of substance. On accosting
person of decent exterior, who stopped
with the ever-ready touch to the hat, he
was encouraged to make simple in
quiry in regard to the situation of
street. The answer he received" Sacre
Angtas!" (Cursed Englishman D-was
prompt, if not much to the purpose, as
the fellow, who had mistaken the Ameri-
cans broken accents for those of an in.
habitant of "Perfde Albion," with an
other touch to the hat, turned upon his
heel.
While Frenchman or German will
take of his hat to every we'll dressed
female chance may throw in his way, he
will hardly bend himself 20 lift fallen
child, or move an inch upon the seat
where he has planted himself to make
room for fainting woman. Our ceun-
trymen are deservedly notable for their
tender solicitude for the weak and help
less, whoever they may be; and their
chivslreus attention TO unprotected
women, wherever they are found, is pro-
verbal
Politeness, civility and courtesy, al
though they derive their names from the
city and court, and would seem to have
taken their origin in those artificial CEN
tiers Of society, and TO indicate merely
conventional form of manners, have now
come to have larger signifcation. and
embrace not only the external motions Of
behavior, but the sentiments and feelings
whichprompt them. That which is purely
gesture may be distinguished as cere-
mony, while emotion is essential to what
is now termed politeness. True courtesy
must be HEARTFELT; otherwise it is un-
worthy of the name, and its supposed
indications can only be regarded as cere-
monial observances.
IT must not be supposed that ceremony
though care should be taken to check
excess, and not to give it the currency
as4sx1ite of genuine politeness-is with
out its uses. Its combination with heart
felt courtesy, sometimes found in kindly
and cultivated natures, forms a union of
grace and benevolence which goes far to-
ward the formation of that perfect char
acter, the gentleman. OF itself, more
over, ceremon~is not to be despised 1t
is very useful science, says Montaigne.
Like grace and beauty, it conciliates from
the first the good feeling and intimacy of
society, and consequently opens the door
for our instruction by Others, and the in
PRODUCTION of ourselves if we have any
thing 10 say or teach. ." Not to use Ger
emonies at all, >" says Lord Bacon, " is to
teach each Others not to use them again,
and so diminish respect to himself; espe-
cially they are not TO be omitted to
strangers and formal natures but the
dwelling upon them, and exalting them
above the moon, is not only tedious, but
both diminish the faith and credit of him
that speaks" Bacon closes with a warn
ing " Mems behavior should be like
their apparel, not too strait or point
device, but free for exercise or motion" ]"
-HdrDer's Boar.