The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1885-11-25
Thoughts.


TO tell what man says, pay atten-
ton to the tongue To ascertain what
he means, pay attention to the eye.
To talk in opposition to the heart is one
of the easiest things ia the world. to
look this opposition Is more difficult
than algebra.
Manner is one of the principal ex-
ternal graees of character Ii is the
ornament Of action, and often makes
the commOnest offices beautiful by the
way in which it performs them. Q, is
happy way of doing things, adorn-
ing even the smallest details Of life.
The exercise Of civility costs one
nothing. 1t calls for no sacrifice Of
time, money or interest. There is
nothing To consume or fatigue one in
this delightful exercise. II is the spon-
taneOus flow of good affections, and
consists in those little offices of kind
ness which can be discharged without
trouble, and leave no loss or inconyen-
renee Oehlnu tnem.
Nothing can be great which h not
right. Nothing which reason con-
demns can be suitable for the dignity
Of the human mind. To be driven by
external motives from the path which
our own hearts approve, to give way
to anything but conviction, to suffer
the opinions Of others % rule our choice
or Overpower our resolves, is to submit
'amely to the lowest and most igno-
minious slavery. and to resign the right
of directing our own lives.
All, from the humblest 70 the highes',
need to cultivate a careful and accurate
method Of thought in all things. The
cause of things and their true relations
to each other do not lie on the surface
waiting to be picked up, but are often
far down out of sight, aud must be
Dug for to be discovered. We shall
find them, If at all, in the nature Of the
things themselves, not in some chance
coincidence having no bearing but that
Of association. Prejudices, when sifted
to their real origin, will disappear, fears
will dissolve, rooted aversions be pulled
up like weeds.
There Is meauness which will
grOvel low in the dust for gain and
there is pride that will not bend
gracefully to receive a favor. There
are people who dread to be under an
obligation, and cannot rest until they
think they have repaid it. Yet, is ii
not one kind of selfishness to withhold
from a friend the pleasure of giving
True generosity is freer and broader
than this; 1t accepts with gratitude
what is offered in kindness, while 1t
stands ever ready to bessow what is
possible upon those who may need II.
Ii is a great mistake to think that
kindness consists only in giving. Quite
as often AS pleasingly is il shown by re-
ceiving i'm a glad and graceful man
ner the kindness offered by another.
There is probably no human faculty
that is more in need of faithful and
patient cultivation than the juds ment,
for there is none that has more COM
plications to deal with or more diff
culties to overcome. Nevertheless,
there is perhaps none that receives less
sympathetic discipline or upon which
people generally are less willing to ex-
pend their labor and thought. They
train their ehildren's memory, exercise
their powers Of expression, school them
in habits of industry, endurance, pa
thence and self-eontrol, but seldom dis
cipline their judgment OF teach them
how to draw correct conclusions. That,
they suppose, Is something which time
and experience will do for them; yet,
when they see what hasty opinions
and ill-sdvised judgments are contin-
uslly formed by older people, they
might infer that some definite educa-
ton in this respect was necessary for |
both young and old.