The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1883-04-14
HAMMER AND

OSU~ 80 6V0Ss0uy CIV O~ =
most seductive and irresistible Of social
graces. Yet even beyond the faclna-
ton of beauty may be ranked the charm
of manner. and the brilliant interchange
of thought between refined and cult
waited intellects. Manner may indeed
take the first place among social gifts,
for it has an ethical value as a refining
influence in all grades of life. 1t pro-
notes harmony. softcns acerbity Of tenn
per. and diffases a calm joy over the
home circle. while in society it domi.
mates as no other gift or grace can do.
Beauty may often have fatal power to
draw souls earthward, and conversa-
ton. with all its wit and brilliancy. may
be used to vitiate the moral sense ; but
manner IL ever noble and ennobling, be
cause based on the two great moral prin
cipIeslespect for ones self and res
pect for others.
Manner exists as an heirloom among
some races, as the Celt, the Slav and
the Arab. The courtesy of the Celt ap
proaches reverence, and the Bedouins
have the calm majesty Of desert kings.
Allthe Latin races generally have sin-
guhr grace Of idiom and gesture, bat
the Teuton is naturally uncouth and
rough. john Bright, in one of his elo
quent addresses to w~orkingmen, says.
with truth, that manners, far more than
pomp Of luxury, form the chief differ
ence between high and low. rich aud
poor, he noble and the ignoble.
Hthe uncult,vuted classes could be
trained into habits Of mutual courtesy
and politeness, if they were made sensi
BILE of the moral beauty of gentleness.
forbsarance, self-respect and reverence,
there would be less Of the hideousness
of coarse language and brutal self-asser
ton In their ordinary intercourse. Man
ner is a royal grace that we are acoustic
med to associate withhighr rank and high
breeding, but it may dwell in the cot
tage as in the palace ; and it has this
advantage, that. while it can beautify
all life, it costs nothing, aud never gene
rated an evil thought or word.
The true science of manner is in the
nature and heart, in the sensitive in
sight into ano.her's feelings, and in the
instinct which avoids all that could hurt
or wound. combined with the readiness
to give honor where honor is due. But
training and cultivation are still very
necessary to bring the outward gesture
into accordance aud harmony with the
inward grace. The voice must be
taught meditation. the information
brought to the perfectioa of clear and
sonorous music, and the eyes, the lips.
the hands. all made to express emotion
with dignity and grace.
Matthew Arnold says that the proper
training Of the muscles of the mouth
wouid alone be sufficient to make a
people beautiful and redeem the lowest
type from utter ngliness +; for the sin of
a vulgar face. lies chiefly in the help
less, inexpensive mouth. It is the
charm of the French mouth, with its
~ever-varying curves. that gives such in
telligence and expression to the French
face But their language is labial, and
that in itselfhelps to form a fine express
siye mouth, with tull command over
the muscles. There is therefore a deep
truth underlying the very amusing
''prunes, prism ard poetry" recommen
dation to ycangladies enteringa room !;
for fnreaiity iabial sounds should be Sc
leeted and adopted in conversations in
preference to the sibila,it and CULTURAL.
wiich dist6rt the mouth and destroy
facial harmony. Tho French loo,1 SO
well talking that they are fond Of it (;
indeed. Balzac afirnls that in Paris
alone is found tie spontaneous, spirit
%tuelle, graceful intelligence of lnanner
from which springs all good conyersa-
tion.
There is a wonderfully seductive
grace IN voiees tone, information altd
movement j; yet how little are they cuI
tisated. THOSE exquisite charms arc al
most wholly left to the professional ar
fists. who consequently rule mankind
BY their fascination. Yet il wnnli lie