Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-10
THE FIRST LECTURE.
Mrs. Julia Ward Howe "Polite Soci-
ety"-Opening of the Course.


ety"-Opening of the Course.
Only a very few more people could have
found seats in the Congregational Church
last night on the occasion of the opening
of the Sacramento Lecture Associations
winter course. When the inclement
state of the weather is taken into account,
it is surprising that seven or eight hundred
people should have come out to a lecture.
The speaker of the evening was Mrs.
Julia Ward Howe, whose name is familiar
throughout the land. Prior to the lecture,
Miss Amelia BOIL played voluntary upon
the grand organ. At its conclusion Mrs.
Howe entered the auditorium. She was
introduced by Professor Raymond in
complimentary address. A quartet, COM
posed of Miss Ida Clinch, Mrs. B. F. How
roll, sang THE Battle Hymn of
the Republic" of which Mrs. Howe
is the author. As the chorus to the
last stanza was reached, the entire audi
ence (having been requested TO do so by
the Chairman) arose and joined heartily in
the hymn.
Mrs. Howe's subject was, as Polite
Society Polite?" She spoke in low tone
that REQUIRED the closest attention and
strict silence on the part of the auditors,
and the more distant ones found it
impossible to hear all the SEN
fences. Her voice is, however,
very sweet and pleasant one, and grows
in favor with the auditor. She read easily,
without evolutionary attempt, but with
feeling tes;ifyirg TO heart in the text. 1t
was graceful, gentle, yet a strong and
touching appeal for purity of life, sincerity
and manliness. She arraigned sham in
society, but INDUCED in no vituperation in
protesting against the falsity in externals
in what is styled the best society. Where
she found reason to commend social GUS
toms and manners she did so fervently;
Where she found blameworthiness in our
social usagss she visited her reproaches
fearlessly and with vigor but tempered
withal with womanly and plying tone.
1t is not the purpose to give synopsis
OF the lecture. The thought of the dis
course was that the shams Of polite society
are unworthy of free people, and that
the bowling down before wealth and station
is out of harmony with the system of in
situations that distinguish US as progress
sive people. In several respects she found
the polite society of to-day inferior to the
polite manners of the days of her youth.
In nearly all else she expressed the belief
that there has been great social progress,
intellectual advancement and strength
gaining.
A few of the epigrams of the speaker,
though her form of expression is not ad-
hered to. will serve to illustrate some of the
thoughts of the lecture, which is one that
does infinite credit to the speaker, and tes-
titles to her cultivated powers of observa-
ton and her clear conception of human
rights.
Vulgarity often indicates the selfish ma
ture and the undisciplined temper.
Manners are not like clothes; you can
mend them best when you have them on.
l fear the soft voice, when it is assumed,
as it is the indication of insincerity.
The truly polite never deal in detraction;
true politeness speaks of the absent as if
present, for with the polite absence appeals
10 the highest sense of honor.
We Judge of the manners of the man
more by how he speaks of people, than to
people.
Since Sheridan wrote the school for
Scandal the world has become more
merciful.
The slip from fortune tests the sincerity
of friendship.
The polite man and woman never deserts
father and mother in old age. l have
heard of wealthy people who disposed of
them in asylums where they had all the
comforts money could buy-but that was
of the least value.
Care for those belonging to you and the
world of men, whose respect is worth hav-
ing. will honor you Put them aside and
all the world will despise you.
Never deny the bond that binds you to
your brother. Stand beside him IN the
dock or on the gallows. Pure yourself,
you cannot be dishonored by him.
If you are serving the King and your
father, poor and old, is at the gate calling
for you, set down the golden cup and go to
him. Is he feeble, so much the honor
more should you go; is he poverty stricken,
so much the more he needs You.
Said a lady Madame M is too good
natured; she receives everybody" All
| indeed if she were less so would she have
received you?
The law of good breeding is not formal
Cultivate the polite way of thinking, fol-
| good manners are the outg-owth of the
mind.
The anarchist cries: II want money
who has it? The capitalist What pro-
tec:s his possession of il? The law. Then
down with the law" Alas be forgets that
the same law guards and secures every
save his life by escape, because he would
not offend the law.
Bring up children to be self respecting
and self-denying. and under education they
cannot help being polite.
If you doubt your politeness. 60 to your
closet. Manners are not always 10 be i'm
proved by consorting with those who pass
for polite.
So called polite society, with all its pro.
gress, shows its weakness by want of respect
for labor.
In England an aristocratic youth ex.
claimed, !" My father taught me not to as
sociste with school teachers" That j;
very evident" said parson at his elbow.
1t requires greater talent to earn than tc
spend money. Yet polite" society exalt:
those who inherit or marry wealth, and
looks down upon honest labor that earns it
An idle and useless life needs an apology
"a laborious one, never.