Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-04-04
4" CARRIAGE,, AND CHARACTER.
Manner Is More Than MaMMcrs-The
Tell-Tale Daily s. Walk,

MANNER Is Moro IMAM MaAMcrs-The
Tell.Tale Daily s. Walk,
Prof. E. P. Thwing in chronological Journal
Your coach is deceptive index Of your true
condition in life, but by your carriage" you
are known and read of all men. 1t Is more than
figure of speech when the Bible associates
character with ones ''walk and conversation"
and again, when it says, "haying done all,
stand" The administers first command to the
soldier is ''Stand we'll! ~ The APOSTLES last in
junction is the same. Gods special blessing is
on the upright Such are likely to be down
right. Positive characters and weak ones are
thus distinguished The reyeler reels
the miser stoops and the vOluptuary yawns but
the true man shows his inward disposition by
his outward bearing. He stands. not as the
pugllist OF fencer, with one side advanced, as in
hostile attitude to give or take blow but
dq,to pecto,e, uniting possession and dignity
with gentleness and grace. Ones manner is
more than his manners. The latter are acquired
and are often so artificial that we call them
mannerisms, and regard them offensive But
ones mind or air is inclusive Of far more than
those arts and articles learned in the schools,
The whole outward appearance, including the
dress. goes to make up this atmosphere which
one carries wherever he goes. His habits make
his - habit. the garb in which he is known day
by day. "second nature as we say. His
custom becomes a costume, which he rarely laws
aside
Inc Wlry. nervous man moves with rapid gait;
the phlegmatic man with heavy step, aud SO on
with various temperaments Then there are
other principles that form test, illustrated. for
instance, In the stealthy, creeping movements of
the thief, the halting step of the nquisitive or
the aimless walk Ofthe day dreamer .Iknow that
that man has been soldier" said one. "How?"
II know it by his walk" He carried the trunk
and shoulders steady and firm while the motion
of walking brought into action the lower limbs.
The turning in of the toes is not q favorable
sign. Some associate it with mental weak
ness. A shutting gait is another tel:-tale
sign OF character, But to 20 into details
would require volume. A school to teach
youth to walk has been established in Philadel-
phla. A noble, graceful carriage is a more use
1ul accomplishment than dancing. If shoe
makers will only help the teachers of such
school by making sensible shoes, there might be
hope of seeing here the graceful step one notices
among the humblest Spanish peasants. But art
Will never impart the polish which true culture
gives. 1t Is the soul within that illumnes the
lace, that gives persuasive charm to the voice
ana perfection to gesture and to step. Here
ethics and aesthetics unite. 1t Is 'by his person
ailty, as Goethe says, that man acts on man.
II one wishes to charm or to command bv either
OF these functions it will be through the culture
OF the moral sensibilities. largely. By such a
training. person will come to WELD nv his
walk and talk, his eye and his unconscious pasy
lures, power over his fellows alike masterfnl
and benehcent.