The National tribune., 1881-11-12
MANNERS AND SERVICE,

Many Of the small annOyances that spoil
tempers and make life disagreeable might be
avoided by calling things by their right names.
For instance, a great amount OF bad manners and
nsolence passes current IN all classes of society
as independence, personal pride, or social supe-
riority 1t is difficult to define real independ-
ence of character; to tell just what the combina-
ton Of self-respect, good Judgment and mental
strength is which makes it; but it is easy enough
to tell what is not When a cook boils the NUT
ton she was told to roast she is disobedlent, not
independent. When a writer revenges his per-
sonal Sights in newspaper or gratities his dis
like of his neighbor by false imputatiOn of
motives, he plays the part of coward and has
no courage in him. When passenger stretches
his legs across a hOrse-car or sits sideways with
his feet in his neighbor's way, and looks like a
thunder-clOud at any one who stumbles over
him. he is simply nuisance and intensely dis
agreeable.
The false notion that work for an employer is
Incompatible with independence and service in
compatible with pride have made immeasurable
mischief in the world. 1t is evident that the
old-fashioned doctrines of humility and self
sacrifice are of little account among men except
ing as pleasant theories to be preached from the
pulpit and moralized upon in conference meetings.
In honor preferring one another" "ministering
instead of being ministered unto' are not the
ordinary rules of life Yet everybody is bound
to some kind of service; everybody is dependent
upon his fellows the veriest recluse must have
food clothes, and shelter; and if he can make
these himself he is still dependent upon the
courtesy of his neighbOr to let him alone. 1t is
impossible to be wholly independent, and the
attempt might as well be abandoned. But it is
possible to be reasonable; that is within the
reach of every one. Sinecures and perquisites
are sweet to the faithless and lazy of both sexes
and all classes, from the politicians and the
hangers-on of parties all the way along the line
to ignorant cooks and over-dress waiters-they
are all alike undeserving the name of servant,
public Or private, and they should be called, as
they are shirks and sponges.
Here one is inclined to pause and ask at what
point in the social scale does the word servant
become Objectionable? 4 public servant is
proud of the title; and when a man calls him.
self a servant OF the people he assumes title
that is finer to the common ear than that of
servant of God. To be a servant of the church
is the ambition of brilliant and learned men to
serve at the altar means something better than to
Officiate there. The measure of professional and
scientific reputation is the service done. The
expression of the most graceful courtesy is Com
mand mellow can I serve yOu?" The phrase
of formal respect is your obedient servant"
And yet, unaccountably, the very service that
friends do for each other, that the members of
give il l-.ao oH II shay happen tn be-.
poor Ill moG... IS ats.rai. u0Bsi8, .j dieyeeetyl
q personal alslano1. when performed fer wages.
I3e @lshouar o3aHo1 come iB Wlta the pav, sar
fLs Fie-ldy.t IS Talc snE So are rsiato.s.
honorable ae Il honorable. 1Iia- tra PAID
and doctors and scientists The fact is that heads
are so full of nonsense about these things that it is
hard to get at the sound reason which would set
them right. Everybody-tor the exceptions are
so few that it is safe to say everybody-must
have relations with other human beings, his
equals, his interiors, and his superiors if he |
lives he must do something, and what he does |
must serve or harm himself and other people |
To be absolutely independent and free from |
service we repeat, is granted to no One and even |
the choice OF service and Of fellow-wOrkers is |
very much limited To talk of freedom is in |
great part sheer boasting We are born in har- !
ness, and the best we can do is to keep the har
ness from chafing, and to make it a help.
Having tried to find out what they can do and !
what they want others to do for them, let people |
give the faithfulness they require, and let us |
stop calling insolence spirit, rudeness independ-
ence, noisy selt-assertion manliness, conceit, |
pride, and boorishness dignity. Give credit for
good work whether it is eulogy or pudding, and |
confess that success is doing well that which one
undertakes. Duties as well as rights are to be
considered: and it can do no harm to use as
common everyday sense just little Of that hu
mility, lust a trife Of that confession of weak
ness and laundering, which is made so uncOndi- |
tionaly and on so large a scale Sundays.
There would be smoother days and less carewOrn
faces in return for it, All this has nothing to do |
with social equality or an equal division of
both are as impossible as individual
ndependence is. But decent manners ought to
make all intercourse agreeable and decent man
lers will never prevail while bad ones bap-
lied in all classes by false and misleading names.
Boston Adrertiser.
WORDS OF WISDOM.
dCIi,J Jo.t yorld