Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-12-12
Chestcrfiold's Maxims.

lou caunot but be convinced that 9
man who speaks and writes with ele-
gance and grace; who makes choice ol
good words; and adorns and embeilisb. Is
the subject. upon which he either speaks
OF writes. will persuade better, and sue
ceed more easily in obtaining what he
wishes, than man who does not ca
piain himself clearly; speaks his language
III or makes use Of low aud vulgar ex-
pressions; and who has neither grace nor
elegance IN anything that he says.
An ignorant man is insignificant and
'confemptlble. Nobody cares for his COM
pany, and he can just be said TO live,
and that is all. There is a very pretty
French epigram upon the death OF such
an ignorant, Insignificant fellow, the
sting OF which is all that can be said Of
him is that he was once alive and that he
is now dead.
1t Is certain that humanity Is the partic-
ular Characteristic of q great mind.
Little, vicious minds are full of anger and
revenge, and are Incapable of feeling the
eralted pleasure If forgiving their enc.
mics, and OF bestowiDg marks of favor
and generosity upon those of whom they
have gotten the better.
Virtue IL subject that deserves your
and every mans attention, and suppose |
were to bid you make come verses, vr give
me your thoughts in prose upon the sub
ject OF virtue, how would ycu go about
lt7 Why you would first consider what
virtue is, and then what are the effects and
marks If 1t, both with regards to others
and ene's self. You would find, then,
that virtue consists in doing good and
speaking truth, and that its effects are
advantageous to all mankind, aud TO ones
self In particular. Virtue makes us pity
and relieve the misfortunes of mankind: il
makes us promote justice and good order
in society, and in general contributes TO
whatever tends TO the real good of man
KIND. To ourselves it gives an inward
comfort and satisfaction which nothing
else can do and which nothing can rob us
of. Ali otner advantages depend upon
others as much as upon ourselves. Riches.
power and greatness may be taken away
from us by the violence and injustice of
others or inevitable accidents, but virtue
depends only on ourselves, and nobody
can take it away.
Know then, that as learning, honor,
and virtue are absolutely necessary TO gam
you the esteem and admira ION of man.
kind; po.iteness and good breeding are
equally necessary TO make you welcome
and agreeable In conversation aud common
life. Great talents, such as honor, virtue,
learning. AID parts, are above the general
Ity Of the world; who neither possess them
themselves, nor judge of them rightly IN
others; but all people are judges of the
lesser talents, such us civllty, affability,
and an obhging, agreeable address and
manner; because they feel the good effects
of them, as making society easy and
pleasing.
i dare say l need no. tell you how rude
1t IS to take the best place in room, or to
seize Immediately upon what you like at
table without offering first to help others,
as if you considered nobody but yourself.
On the contrary, you should always en-
deavor to procure all the convenIences you
csn to the people you are with. Besides
being civil, which is absolutely necessary,
the perfection of good breeding is to be
civil with ease and in a gentIemanlike
manner. For this you should observe The
French people, who excel in II and whose
politeness seems as easy and natural as any
other part of their conversation. Whereas
the English are often awkward in their
civilItlee, and when they mean TO be civil
are too much ashamed to get IT out