The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-01-07
LETTER TO COUNTRY GIRLS.

clubmeets with the ostepsible object of
improving your minds.
Did it ever occur to you that each one
of you ought to attempt still more i'm
portant work-the improvement of your
own characters?
Now it is all very well to cultivate
your own minds; but what good will all
the knowledge in the world give you if
you do not add To-Day, if you do not su-
persede that knowledge with better traits
of soul? | know woman who devotes a
great deal of time to the pursuit of her
own intellect cultivation; she has a
sincere contempt for Ignorance; she
knows little of all sorts of book knowl-
edge, and really good deal about GER
tain thirgs; but she is sharp in her judg
rents, critical in her speech, wanting in
those kindly, cheerful and generous
feelings that would make those about her
happy. do not know of single human
being, except her husband, who loves
this woman. L hope he does. l do not
know. But am very sure no one else
does. | know another who is neither
educated nor intelligent, but every body
likes to see Ter cheerful face and hear
her kind voice.
What good does the intellectual growth
of the first do her OF her fellow creatures?
If you expect to be a te scheI, OF course
you must study, but il you live at home
try to maxi yourself a loveable, useful,
agreeable inmate OF that home, rather
than a monument of useless learning.
Teach yourselves to be truthful; there
is an amount of deceit aid lying prao,
tissd, even by those protesting to lead
Christian lives, in the present day, that il
startling to every honest person. | know
Of very few persons, men or women, in
the large circle of my acquaintance who
are absolutely and radical truthful. They
would most OF them be shocked to hear
me say so, but their continual habit Of
falling "little les of expedisncy, polite
ness, or excuse has rendered them insen
.ible to the stringent demands Of this
virtue.
l remember once when l was young
went to make visit at the house Of q
man whom had always heard spoken Of
rs so very honest. One day while l was
there be received letter from a person
who was not friend Of his, and who
was known by every one to be tediou,
and oppressive guest, a man with hobby
which he rode rough shod over every one
he met. Mr.. A expressed his regret
peuly at the coming Of this self-invited
guest, which bis letter announced, and
which was peculiarly ill-timed. as well as
disagreeable inherently; but it could not
be helped; Mr.. B. would arrive on the
heels of his letter.
Critical as young girls are, | deter
mined to be present when the unwelcome
guest should appear, and see if Dir. A
would not be civilly dishonest enough to
say II am glad to see you"
But was agreeably disappointed; when
he door opened Mr.. A. stepped forward
and hold out his hand to the new conner,
saying: Good evening, Mr.. B.; hope
you are we'll, sir!''
There you see truth and politeness
we're welded. l never forgot it; never
TO NJ nd n
time his honesty has encouraged me to be
rs honest, to refrain oven from the ap-
pearance even of insincerety.
Now l know that the code OF civility in
the country is rather severe. l have
known many persons TO break an engage
ment to tea or to spend the evening be.
cause "callers" came in or sono upin.
vitsd guest, thereby causing great incon,
venience at the house where they were
expected, because they were not honest
enough TO say
Il must excuse myself to you, for l
SIN engaged to tea at Mr.. A. or to spend
the evening at Mr.. B. g."
l have often asked friends who disap-
pointed me in this manner why they did
not so excuse themselves, and have been
answered:
90. | was afraid of vexing her! l said
nothing aboutr'
They were not at all afraid of vexing
me. Then, again, always give the real
reason for doing or not doing anything
that is que.tioned, or if Won cannot give
it, say frankly:
Il had a compelling reason, but am
uot as liberty to tell what it was; you
must trust me so far.
Ioncs asked lady to meet some friends
at my house. She sent me word that she
b sd so severe cold that she dared not
iaave her rooms, but the same evening
she went to the theater. OF course |
heard OF it the next day, but l suppose
she Is yet unconscious that l discovered
her lie
Often has something similar to this
happened, and not with her alone, and it
bis sort of thing that degrades char
md defrauds every man or woman
Fractional