The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1892-05-11

on may love ana esteem your
parents, but there may be want of
subordination at home. You per-
haps have been allowed too much
freedom of manner there. Try
yourselves to correct this fault and
to show respect, where respect is due.
Cultivate reverence, and manifest
it by respectful manners. Consider
that your elders are intended by
Providence to be your guardians
and instructors. They may not
know as much of geography, or
arithmetic, or other branches of
learning as you do, but they certain
ly have more experience, and this
entities them to your Difference.
Give place to your elders. Salute
them respectfully-listen to them
attentively. If you have the feel
ing, you will find occasions enough
to show it.
[ leave you to reflect upon this
quality of reverence or respect, and
think you will find it is the secret
spring of all good manners.
[ proceed to give you some hints
which [ trust may be of service to
you, and let US begin at the begin
ming. Personal cleanliness is es-
sential to good breeding. In form
er times, and in other countries
now, greasy" "unwashen," frank
scented many" were words used to
characterize the working portion of
ne world. It is not so-certainly
1t ought not TO be so, in our country,
my young friends. You have time
enough for personal neatness-you
have abundance of clean water in
town and country; and there are
few of you but can possess, each boy,
and each girl, his or her own comb,
hair-brush, toothbrush and shoe
brush.
A daily, thorough washing from
head to foot, is important to your
health. The civilization of differ
ent countries is measured by the
amount of soap they consume. A
clean face, we'll washed ears, clean
hands and nails, hair nicely brush
ed and arranged, are indispensable
to good breeding. They are indica-
tions that you belong to decent
people-that you have respectable
mother-that you respect your
selves. You need not have as many,
or as good clothes as your compan-
ions. There is many vulgar, i'll
bred person in rich and fine clothes,
but there is no well-bred person
with slovenly hair, neglected teeth,
or blackened nails.
A small portion of the time COM
monty loitered or p aged away in
the morning will enable you to pay
all the little attentions to your per-
sons which we ask of you. Try it
for one year. Habit will make it
easy, and so important to your COM
fort, that your own tooth brush, and
your own comb, will seem as as
sential to you as knife and fork to
eat with.
There are schools in our city
where the boys, with few exceptions,
appear, even through the dirty
winter months, with nicely brushed
and blackened shoes. You may be
sure these boys do not shuttle their
feet, or sit knocking one against the
other. They know it costs labor to
make them clean, and they try to
keep them so. These clean boots
and shoes show progress in civiliza-
ton. A boy who, from his own
sense of decency, brushes his shoes
in a short winters morning, merits
praise. A gentleman who has moth
ing to dc but order his servant to
brush them, has no great merit in
wearing clean boots. But let us see
what we may infer when we observe
a school-boy wearing them. First
his neatness. Secondly, his dill
gence; for he must make the most
of his time to get them ready for the
morning school Thirdly, his order;
for he must keep his brushes and
backing in their places-he has no
time to spend in hunting them up
Fourthly, his economy; he must be
saving of his backing, he cannot
afford to waste it. And filthy,
self-denial for probably he has to
cut off some self-indulgence in or
der to get brushes and blacking.
Mother" said a little boy of my
my acquaintance, eff you please, 1
had rather take the money father
gave me to 90 to the menagerie, and
buy a shoe brush with it."
Joseph" said father to his son,
. 81 viii give you a shilling for the
work you did yesterday. You can