Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-09-11
PULTrkNEss ASDITS DALUF.
a Few Hints That should Re Taken to Heart
hN the Rl.inr q GtneraiInn-


Prom the Philadelphia Record.
In this bustlipg and practical age we are
too apt to I've careless a. to graces Of manner
and conversation. We look back occasion.
ally on the days Of nericles, when the Athe-
mans talked in high-souuding phrases and
salutiug each other with the Difference which
subjects now only give to kings, or in the
days of the ancient regime, when the cour-
tiers of Louis were conspicuous for conVen-
tioHal politeness and grace that scarcely
served to conceal the hatred, the venom, tho
meanness and vulgarity that lay beneath.
And, therefore, assoCiating pOliteness other
with a state OF society where there is but lit
tie freedom OF thought speech or action, and
where the social fabric ia built up OF classes
who are divided 10y laws OF caste, or else
with sleepy Oriental countries, where men
lead the Life of iotus-eaters and rust away in
idleuess, the study OF manners engages but
little OF our thoughts We taCitly admit, C
course, that the exercise OF such an attribute
is all right but our great weakness is 10 look
TO results instead of to details, and We are too
apt 10 forget that those results are brought
about by the very means which we max
light Of 1t must be admitted, however that
We admire Politeness in others. As q people,
beneath the rough exterior which We so often
assume we have sympathetic and n kindly
nature we are alive to q tale Of distress and
are ready to respond 10 the cry of suffering (;
but We are too careless OF the little courtesies
which adds such a charm to either social or
business Intercourse. PoliteneSs may he
STYLED one of the delicate humanities 1t
sweetens existence and, besides being a
high social virtue, il is--and this is something
worthy of attention in such a practical age
really useful in many ways and proves itself
to be safe and remunerative business in
Vestment.
1t 10 hardly possible to estimate the amount
of unconscious egotism to be found in every
man and woman, II crops up in the most
unexpected quarters, and exercises a large
influence on the common affairs of life Ci-
Witty, therefore, affects us more than native
modesty would probably care to aChnowl-
edge. We look tor it In others, no matter
what may be the particular relation which
they sustain 10 us and we tp them, and we
feel disappointed and are ruitisd by its alb
seuce. The larger the city and the more
crowded the community the less do we find
Commercial politeness ii seems 10 dwindle
away in an inverse ratio to the square OF bus
mess. Men vii. tell you, If they ever stop
to discuss the matter that they have no time
to bestOw on hollow phrases and superb uous
COnventiOnalities, and that there is no place
in the counting room, the store the ware
house or the factory for the meaningless
manners aud stereotyped geDunections of
the court or the drawing room. This may
be true, but there is " ample room and verge
enough for the happy medium of which
Horace sings without transforming ourselves
witnessing " Pinatore" " at the absurd sug.
gestion of Sir Joseph Porter that the captain
of that ship shall say !" If you please ~ to his
men when giving them any command. And
yet, after all, there is a sound principle un-
deriying this piece OF burlesque. The man
who is kind and gracious to those who
Tor the time being are under him will GER
tainly have his reward. Every reader of
Dickens can remember the despairing cry of
Joe, the street waif in 81 Bleak House." - he
wor real good to me, he wor." This portion
OF the scum Of great seething city, with
scarcely glimmering instinct or an idea as
to right or wrong, was touched by kindness
and by gentleness. He could not understand
it he did not comprehend its Significance
or meaning but it was something different
from what he had ever met with or known,
and so in his blind and ignorant groupings he
came upon the truth as to
That best portion of Il good mans life,
His little, nameless unreme m bercd acts
bi kindness ana OF love.
Men will argue sometimes that they have
no time TO be polite, forgetting that 1t takes
disagreeable There are more things needed
10 insure success in business than money,
experience and integrity. The amenities
which some despise so much are also potent
factors and even II you can point out man
who is rude and churlish, and yet successful
in life that is no argument against the truth
oil the theory-it simply shows that he has
succeeded in spite OF the want of politeness
IT, therefore, civility be such large and po-
tential ingredient Of success, IL IL strange that
it should DO used so sparingly Ii costs moth
ing 1t requires no room for storage, and
can, in fact, he carried in a vest pocket or put
in glove box, and the more OF 1t that is
given the more remains. When people can
be made to understand that the use OF it may
bring dollars and cents, then they may ais
begin to consider il in its moral aspect and
make life brighter by showing 1t in its finer
ways and more subtle forms.