Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-12-27

THE BONDAGE or HABIT.-It is good
sometimes TO see ourselves rs others see
us, and we wish NEST heartily it could he
done in all such cases as we are abOnt TO
speak Of for we have been obliged often
to close our eyes when there has been no
way possible of taking ourselves out of
the Objectionable presence, in order to be
able 10 maintain the usual healthy condi
ton of our stomach, while one sitting next
to OF opposite, utterly forgetful of their
surroundings, with no one to Jog their
memory. was yielding TO some very dis
gushing habit.
So many people are under the bondage
of some petty habit that they cease to be
pc culiar, although always more or less
offensive.
There are persons who publicly perform
personal offices of the toilet; who have a
trick of bringing out penknife to clean,
scrape, pare and polish their nails; who
are always smoothing their hair, and
sfroking their WI skers; who, if they are
afflicted with spots, cannot leave them
alone; who pick their teeth at odd times,
settle their lies, arrange their cuffs, brush
off the dust from their knees-who, in
short, are forever and perpetually per-
forming, with the happicst unconscious
ness of offence included, little personal
Offices which refined person wonld not
dream of executing in public. Nearly
allied to them are the people who cannot
stand straight; tLey slope to the right, or
they hang TO the left; they hoist one hip,
drop one knee, or they twist one leg
round the o;htr; and it seems to he more
than they can possibly accomplish 10 sit
with their feet on an even plane without
crossing Que foot over the other leg. An
other kind bite their nails; another lns
cough that is only Il trick and another
snutlle3 at every third word. This last
offender is wholly Offensive, by the way.
and should be frowued down; he is no.
fit for decent society. Mr.. Jones frowns
constantly; and Mr.. Smith arches his
eyebrows. One man whistles; another
huns; third make noise which is
between both, and yet is neither one nor
the other. Some twtch their mouths, and
some iluter their eyelidsi some shut their
eyes when they speak, others open theils
TO their widest extent, Some toss Their
heads; others rub up their hair; some bite
their lips, which is ugly, and some bite
their checks, which is hidecus; and so on
and ON, in endless variety. If anyone of
ordinary perceptions will take the trouble
to observe, LIE will find an endless variety
of these tricks as transacted by his friends
and atquainlances; some harmless, some
even petty, hut for the most part ungracc.
full, and many disgusting.
We would suggest as more profitable
field for observation, ones own personal
habits, to find something which were
better left un lone, AMI especially the field
of those graces which we count especially
attractive, which oilers my not view in
the same light.
Beside tho .cac.S which are unc )nscious.
ly or tnoughtles,ly india sc in, there are
others which young people sometimes
seem to think smart or attractive, and
which often make them objects Of ridicule
or dislike. A simple, natural unaffected,
department groun ted on intelligent per-
sonal habit, will tell otter generally,
than any strained attempt to excite Admi.
ration or attract attention.