Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1886-05-22
The Habit of politeness. ,


is frequently regarded as a superb
cial thing, consisting of an adler
ence 10 rules and forms of etiq cite
or at best mere imitation ol kind
ness, which woud lose all value il
seen through. THUS many worthy
and sincere people, assoclating il
with protcncc, feel Il certain con
tempt Tor it, and Of course do not
cultivate it, while others, shrewdly
seeing in it only a useful lever tc
gain personal ends, try to practice
it accordingly whenever they sup.
pose it may react henefcially upon
their own interests.
Both these classes err in under
rating trlc po;ieness. tits not a
spurious imitation OF kindness,
respect Or regard, neither is it
Synonymous with them; but it is
their natural outward expression.
It may be defined as the art OF
showing by external signs the
Internal regard we have for all our
felow-men. For, While the many
different sentiments we hold TO
wards those bound to us by differ
ent ties arc sgmboliZed, each by
different and appropriate Conduct
The universal sentiment Of brother
hood between nrln and man finds
lifting manifestation in polite
ness. While our friends may claim
cur love aud loyalty, tho aged on
reverence, great aud good men on
respec5 and esteem anu the unfol
rlinate our sympathy, all may just
ly claim THAT general regard that
expresses itself in polite behavior
Therefore, although poiiteness has
many countcrteils, it is i'll itseli
true and Honest coin and should he
respected as such.
SGltiShnass,. often initiates il
through policy. People vaguely
believing that it pays to he polite
take pans TO act politely where
they see u r;lir chance of reward
10 superiors in wealth or station,
to customers or clients, to those
WHO can rende. them fayors, they
vii! hasten to show little attentions
and respectful interest; but to III
fcriors, TO children, to The poor or
to strangers they will be curt, blunt
and even rude. Much of what
passes for politencss in society Is
of this nature. The forms which
etiquette prescribes arr strictly
obeyed, no rule is intringed, no
ceremony omitted, pleasant little
acts Of thoughtful kindness are
numerous, ami IL general feeling Of
satisfaction pcrrades the company.
Now, if we follow these people to
their homes, and there find them
rude, thoughtless and selfish, we
MAY be sure that what we had sup
posed 10 he politeness was nothing
more than Il very harrow notion OF
SELF interest. The truly polite man
is polite to his children in the nur
sery, to his employees in the tilctory,
to The stranger III The street, to the
crowd who jostle him, TO the poor
whom he relieves, to the vicious
whom he rebulles, as well to those
whose society he Graves and whose
esteem is dear tG him. All are his
brethren, and to all lie willingly ac-
cords this token Of brotherhood.
20 become really polite, there
fore, we must cultivate a kind and
friendly feeling TO all. The desire
to please or 10 aid every one, to
the best Of our ability, is the first
and most important thing. Then
may we study to advantage the
most fitting and graceful express
zion of this honest feeling. Both
Of these can be inculcated most
easily and thoroughly in childhood.
Both Can become habits Of life,
which will prove Invaluable. TO
develop the heart and instruct the
manners correspoudingly should
be the aim of every guardian OF
youth. The exercise OF kindly feel
ing will always increase it, and the
expression OF it, begun as duty,
will soon become a delight. Child
rem quickly respond to the real
sentiments Of those with whom
they mingie. 1t is not difficult to
excite their emotions OR to lead
them to appropriate expression.-
Too often they are trained by pre-
cept and example to be carefully
polite to visitors, VI to those whom,
from dress and appearance, they
suppose to be gentlemen anu ia
dies,' while they are suffered, ul-
reproved, to be rude to poorly
dressed or awkward people, TO ser
wants or to eanii ether. Thus the
habits, both Of feeling and express.
sion, become fixed within them and
they grow up to be essentially I'm
polite people, though they may bt
yersed III al! tue etiquette OF socle
~. On The other hand, the chile
WHO is Infatuated to feel kindly
and to act pleasantly and gracious
" 20 every one ut all times-to de-
sire tlieir happiness and to promote
it when he c;,n, to have a cbecrfl
smile or II cordial word or d quicl
act Of sei!-sauliticu always read.
when necded-may or may no