The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-02-03
Roxnl Gracc is Manner.
AND WE ALWAYS ASSOCIATE 1T WITH DIG
BANK AND BREEDING.

BANK AND BREEDING.
A correspondent writing from London
saws: If the uncultvated classes could be
trained into habits of mutual courtesy and
politeness, II they were made sensible OF
the moral beauty Of gentleness, forbear-
ance. self-respect, and reverence, there
would be less of the hideousness OF coarse
language and brutal seli-assertion in their
ordinary intercourse. Manner Is a royal
grace that we are accustomed to associate
with high rank and high breeding. but ii
may dwell i'm the cottage as in the palace ;
and it has this advantage: that while 1t
can beautify all life. it costs nothing and
never generated an evil thought or word.
The true science of manner Is in the ma
ture and heart, in the sensitive insight into
onotber's feelings, and the Instinct which
avoids all that could hurt or wound, COM
bined 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 and
harmony with the inward grace. The voice
must be taught moduation, the intOnatiOn
brought to the perfection 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 would alone be sufficient to
make people beautiful and redeem the
lowest type from utter uSliness; for the
sin of a vulgar face lies chiefly in the help
less, inexpensive mouth. IL is the charm
of the French mouth, with It's ever-varying
curves, that gives such intelligence and eX-
preston to the French face. But their
language Is labial. and that in itself
helps to form n fine, expressive mouth,
with full command over the mus
cies. There is, therefore, 4 deep truth
underlying the very amusing "prunes,
prism and poetry" recommendation Of
young ladies entering room, for, in reality,
labial sounds should be selected and adopt
ed in conversation in preference TO the sibi-
liant and cultural which distort the mouth
and destroy facial harmony. The French
look so we'll talking that they are fond OF
it-indeed, Balzac affirms that in Paris
alone is found the spontaneous, spirituelle,
graceful intelligence Of manner from which
springs all good conversation.
There is q wonderfully seductive grace
In voice, tone, intOnation, and movement;
yet how little they are cultivated. These
exquisite charms are almost wholly left to
the professional artists, who consequently
rule mankind by their fascination. Yet
it would be quite possible to make every
woman as perfect in tone and gesture
rs a trained actress. Every one cannot
be taught to sing or paint, but they
may he taught TO speak clearly, intOnate
musically, and to move with dignity
and grace. A years training ut the Dra-
matte College should be considered indis-
pensable to every girls education. Why,
asks French writer, cannot Les geSteS
qrdtieuT. la tOurnltre eleqdlite" OF the stage,
the noble movements Of the head, the
hands and arms, and the cultivated voice
be brought into our ordinary social life !?
The voice alone has an infinite power to
charm. vet Of all graces it is the most
neglected.
The Greeks fully recognized the import
ance OF manner, and their children were
early trained in habits Of pOliteness and
graceful courtesy. The youths were made
to recite Homer, to gain command of sono-
rous language and rhythmical cadence;
they were taught to move to music, to
maintain Il noble dignity Of bearing, easy
grace, low and level tone, and never to
degenerate 10 laughter. Those great philos-
ophers Pcricles, Plato, and Aristotle, were
models of fine manners; and the noble de-
scription given by Aristotle OF the de-
meanor suited to perfect gentleman might
be studied with advantage in the highest
circles of the nineteenth-century civiliza-
ton.
St. Paul, who was deeply versed in Greek
philosophy, had no doubt also studied the
Greek code OF manner. Coleridge notices
the perfect courtesy and high breeding of
st. Paul, of which a notable instance is his
reply to King Agrippa: 81 would that
thou and all who hear me were as | am eX-
cept these bonds" Here was the courage
OF his creed, skilfully combined with the
Difference due royal rank. The perfect
grace and noble dignity OF this answer
could not be SURPASSED