Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1889-04-06

II there Is something you are per.
suaded your friend does not wish you
to know. why should you disquiet your
self about itP Is he bound to acquaint
you with all or indeed with any part Of
his life. past or PRESENT. There are
many intricacies in the art Of question
ing, known only to the vulgarly
curious. which are called polite But
in reality they are beneath the scorn
of the high-minded gentleman or lady.
Kindness ought to be on par with
virtue-it ought to be its own reward.
We think it is. II not, it is a lament
able fact that, for the most part, it goes
unrewarded.
Be ready to hear the perplexities OF
others. but slow to speak Of your own.
If you can not proffer sympathy, at
at least bestow silence. 1t is often
quite as efficient.
Humor the whims OF your acquaint-
ances, and cater in SO far as you can to
their caprices. You, no doubt, are not
exempt from the one, nor superior to
the other. Kindness does not presup-
pose friendliness nor even approval
1t is merely the oil which lubricates
the wheels of life and enables them to
run without intolerable noise and fric-
tion. Small politenesses are not much
of drain upon ones time, and they
are OF two-fold benefit They enlarge
and ennoble the nature of him who
confers them, and they inspire and
strengthen those on whom they are
bestowed. The gentleman or lady is
never perturbed by the rudeness of
others, knowing its source is ignorance
or depravity which merits only COM
passion. II one is courteous he will be
so to all, but with a dignity and re-
serve which will effectually prevent
misunderstanding and misconception.
The girl whose unwarrantable liber-
ties with her acquaintances must be
constantly set aside is an exasperating
companion. We have all met her. She
clings to your hand, calls you tender
names, compassion ates you, sympa-
thizes with you, and worst OF all insists
upon kissing you and caressing you.
Very likely our prosecutors mean us
no i'll, but one may exercise little
Judgment and be governed in a degree
by inclination, even as to whom she
shall kiss good night. We are not dis
posed TO value very highly that which
comes to us without any seeking of our
own. The friendship which attacks our
lives rather than drifts into them, may
have come to stay, but the probabilities
are all to the contrary. Do not hold
yourself too cheap.
You can not live without companion
ships. but it is better to assume to the
world that you can. The world is fond
OF strength and self-reliance. 1t has no
place for the weakling Be kind and
courteous to all for this is your simple
duty and should be your privilege as
WELL But be intimate with few. No
one can possibly be true to many
friends. The relation is too replete
with obligations and responsibilities.
1t should never be assumed lightly.
But we may all do much to make
those about us happier and better by
taking thought for the small courtesies
which go so far to swell life little sum
of brightness and beauty. Beside,
there is always a reflex influence upon
our own characters. do not say we
should think OF this do not think we
should, but for all that it enters into
the general account. We are so united
with and bound to our fellows that
whatever we do for them is mirrored in
our own hearts. Even the little things
then are worth while. Most of us are
incapable of great deeds or will lack
opportunities for doing them. The
glorious sacrifice, the mighty and vic
torious conflict, the lofty purpose in a
worldly sense, these are to the few.
But the earnest effort to do well the
small task which each day brings, this
is to all. We live not to ourselves
alone, but to all men beside How inn
portant, then, that we live well, gen
erously, unselfshly! How essential
that our relations to those about us
have their foundations in kindness, sim
certify and true courtesy which includes
and is the sum OF all else!-Angela, in
/ c. E,vontv,or TIoealH