The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-10-19
SMALL SWEET COURTESIES
A Gentlewoman Never Fails to
Extend Them-Their Influence
in Daily Life.

Life is so complex, its machinery SO
intricate, that it is impossible that the
wheels should always move smoothly
and without friction. There is a con
tinual straining of every nerve togain
and keep a place in this overcrowded,
busy world. What wonder if in the
hurry and pushing the rights of others
are traInpled or completely ignored,
when every individual is in such haste
that time fails for the small sweet
courtesies of life!"
But it is the little offices Of friend
ship-the encouraging smile, the APP
preciative word, the thought for our
preferences, the avoidance of our
prejudices-which make life easier,
and which lessen in a marvellous de-
gree all its worries and perplexities.
For nothing prevents friction so per-
fectly as the exercise of what we
sometimes disdainfully call the minor
virtues. As though one should be en-
dowed with truth, and yet, lacking
prudence and delicate insight and Cir
cumspection, wound with sharp
needle pricks the sensitive hearer. We
do not care to be constantly reminded
of our failings. Faithful are the
wounds of a friend" but friends too
often show a fondness for the scalpel,
and lay bare our pet weaknesses in a
truthful but exceedingly uncomfort-
able fashion.
A gentlewoman never fails in the
small sweet courtesies. Insrinctively
she respecti respects the feelings, and
having the golden rule by heart,
it is from her heart that all
lovely, love-compelling graces flow.
''In her tongue is the law Of kind
ness" and she has the ready tact
which takes advantage of every OPP
portunity to render the lives of others
happier.
And every morning with a 'Good-day,"
Makes each day good.
Her winning smile and gentle minis
trations, her soft voice and unfaiIing
sympathy, insure her always a ready
welcome, and, like the sun, she finds
the world bright, because she first
makes it So"
The fairy tale of our young days
has q peculiar charm and attraction.
The courteous, cheerful maiden who
draws water for the withered old
crone, and who listens to her, and re-
plies with amiability, is rewarded with
the gift of uttering pearls and dia-
monds; and, in the less romantic Ger
man version, Frau Hole bestows gold
pieces as the reward of civility and
diligence with that delightful prodig-
atty SO characteristic of fairy land.
The small sweet courtesies are so
potent in their influence upon our
daily life, softening it's asperities,
rounding its angles, and insensibly
compelling imitation. For who
could be churlish, or even cold
and Indifferent, when surrounded
by an atmosphere of genial Warmth
The little everyday and all-day
thought for others is not hard to some
gracious natures imbued with the
rare virtue of self-forgetfulness; but
to those who long for the admiration
of their fellow creatures, the practice
OF the small sweet courtesies can be
recommended as an unfailing means
of gaining that appreciation. Mr..
expresses it thus
Twas her thinking of others made you think of
her.
In his exquisite portrait poem, my
Love-" Lowell has translated into the
diviner language of poetry the words
of our text
She doeth little kindnesses
Which most leave undone or despise;
For naught that sets an heart at ease,
And giveth happine ss or peace,
Is low esteemed in her eyes.
-Hu9peT's WeekIu.