Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-05-27
8eligioms Department.
Christian Courtesy.

Christian Courtesy is one OF the
most benevolent, important and
powerful accomplishments of the
Christian With it one will succeed
in absence of many qualifications
deemed absolutely essential to success
while without it one must fail even if
possessed of many requisites to it.
None whose observance is extended
but have some knowledge of men
who are blessed with gifts, opportun-
tiles and most favorable surround
ings, and yet who are far from sue
cessful while others who have had
few privileges are immensely popular.
Many reasons are given for the fail
ure of one and success of the other.
But nothing comes so near a correct
explanation as that proportioned to
the success or failure is the posses
sion of Courtesy. The courteous
man or women is the popular man or
woman, and withal the successful
ones. Nor is such assertion surprise
ing when we note the fact that to be
courteous requires much. Itrequlres
q tender heart, on WnseLtfsh disposition,
q wise head, q liberal mind, q ben
evozent feeling and a charitable viea0.
With such possessions we may go
forth into our daily walk rich in OPP
portunity to be courteous. We may
spread the sunshine of our presence
over very many lives, out of which
much of light has been driven, and
in which is much of somber tint.
Life is real and earnest. Its reality
to very many is not of joy, but of
sorrow. We meet with them, and to
many the only glimpse of better life
can be gained from their contract
with us. Thousands of lives have
caught glimpse of a better world
through the kindness of one who iv-
ed in it; and through all the slippery
paths of youth, through all the allure
ments of sin, through all the discour-
agements incident to the struggle from
a lower to higher plane of life, this
glimpse of better things has been
safeguard and beacon, until sure
footing had been effected upon the
higher plane, from which they have
discovered better things, and caught
a new inspiration to new effort and
the result is the salvation of precious
souls.
Courtesy is benevolent. When we
have opportunity to extend it and do
not, it is sad comment upon our
goodness of heart. Not money or
large gifts is the want of our fife,
nor, of other lives, for in homes where
plenty abides, there are tired frames,
discouraged hearts, unrecongized la
bors, uncomplimented effort; a rec
ignition of which is helpful, will be
courteous in us, and wonderfully
grateful to others. / sometimes think
if we could reverse matters and bear
our home manners out with us, and
leave our company manners at home,
love would intensity at home, but the
change away from it would not be
fattering to our vanity. The fact is
no man would dare be as boorish and
uncouth as disagreeable and unkind
away from, as at home. If he were,
the community would rise en- maasse
and he would be summarily dealt with.
Too often the honey is thickly spread
in kindly praise, when better results
and more disin terested efforts are
passed, without recognition at home,
in which place the gall is dispensed
with lavish hand. A reversal of
matters would be better than no
change; but we would suggest that
the courtesy we may use away from
home be dispensed there also-a most
wonderful change will be apparent.
Hearty mirthfal laughter is infect
ious, and courtesy is catching. Kind
ness extended, will certainly provoke
to kindliness in return. A soft an
swer turneth away wrath, and not
less will the pleasant reply to salu
tations, of whatever character, have
good effect. Try it. If perchance
you find disagreeble people in the
world. if moodiness and irritability
are manif est, be courteous, kindly so,
and the clouds will scatter as dew be-
fore the morning sunshine. If it does
not convert the churl, it will at least
silence him, and you are better for it.
am of the opinion that people are
to us generally as we are to them.
I have been in many places and have
met many people; with few except
ions, [ have found this world peopled
with pretty, pleasant, parcel of
folks. If I should go through it with
sour temper, face frowning and gloomy
dignity SO immense as to show my own
conscious of it, need not be surpris-
ed if find, in the first place, as like
attracts like, my sour temper and
gloomy face may not monOpolize al
ong that line. And as to my dignity,
it will be apt to be disturbed by some
one who has a supreme sense of the
ridiculous. But, basing my actions
upon Solomon's words of wisdom
GA man that hath friends must show
himself friendly" then friends will
appear where l am, can find and do
much good as travel through life.
We are apt to give the loaded wa
gon the right of way, and if seeing a
Z I I