The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-08-07

any one who had the honor of a.seat at his
table should be neglected by those "ras-
calls" as he generally styled his foot
men.
1t being the first evening, Mrs. Mclwyn
had too much politeness to require Miss
Arnold to enter upon those after-dinner
duties the performance of which had
been expressly stipulated for b. Gather
inc; stipulated for not only with Lcttice,
but with the general himself. She had
made her father promise that he would
let her undertake the place of reader
which Catherine had herself filled for
some time, to the ineXpressible relief of
her mother-and that Miss Arnold
should be permitted to try whether she
could play well enough at backgammon
to make an adversary worth vanquish-
ing.
He had grumbled and objected, as
matter of course, to this arrangement,
but had finally consented. However, he
was not particularly impatient to begin;
and besides, he was habitually a well
bred man, so that any duty that came
under his category of good manners he
punctually performed. People are too
apt to misprize this sort of politeness of
mere habit; yet, as far as it goes, it is an
excellent thing. 1t enhances the value
of Il really kind temper, in all the dOmes-
tic relations, to an incaiculable degree
a degree little appreciated by some wor-
thy people, who thing roughness proof
of sincerity, and that rudeness marks the
honest truth of their affections. And
where there is little kindness of nature,
and great deal of se!fishness and i'll
tempered indulgence, as in this cross old
man before us, still the habit of polite
ness was not without avail; it kept him
in certain check, and certainly rem
dered him more tolerable. He was not
quite such brute bear as he would have
been, left to his uncOrrected nature.
| PoIiteness is, and ought to be, a habit
so confirmed, that we exercise it instinct
vely-withont consideration, without
attention, without effort, as it were; this
is the very essence of the sort of polite
ness | am thinking of. 1t takes it ont of
the category of virtues, it is true but it
places it in that of the qualities; and in
some matters, good qualities are almost as
valuable, almost more valuable, than
if they still continued among the virtues
and this of politeness, in my opinion,
is one.
BY virtues / mean acts which are per
formed with certain difficulty, under
the sense of responsibility to duty under
the self-disciplinc of right principle; by
Qualities ! mean what is spontaneous
| Constitutional good qualities are spon
taneous Such as natural sweetness OF
of temper, natural deIcacv of, feeling
natural intrepidity; others are the result
of habit and end by being spontaneous
bv being a second nature; Justly art
habits CALLED so. Gentleness of tone anC
manner. attention to conventional pro
prieties, to peoples little wants anC
feelings, are of these. This same polite
ness being a sort of summary of such,
will end this little didactic DEPRESSION h,
advising all those who have the rearin,
Of the young in their hands carefully t,
form them in matters of this description
50 that they shall attain habits-so tha
the delicacy of their perceptions, tn
gentlcness of their tones and gestures
the propriety of their dress, the polite
ness Of their manners, shall become spon
taneous acts, done without reference t
self, as things of course. BY whic
means, not only much that is disagreeabl
to others is avoided and much that
amiable attained, but a great deal @
reference to self in after life escaped
and temptations to the faults of vanity
pride, envious comparisons with ou
neigbbors, and the feebleness of self-di:
trust very considerably diminished.
And so, to return, the poiteness of tn
general and Mrs. Melwyn led to this IT
suit, the leaving Miss Arnold undi
turbed to make her reflections and he
observations, before commencing the tas
which Mrs. MeIwyn, for the last tim
5 undertook for her, of reading the new
paper and PLAYING the hit.
Lettice could not help feeling rejoice
: to be spared this sort of public exhibitio
: of her powers, till she was in a slight d
? gree better acquainted with her grount
and she was glad to know, without beir
directly told, what it was customary
: do in these respects. But in every othC
point of view, she had better, perhap
a have been reader than listener. For,
f she gained a lesson as to the routine