Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1892-01-29
SMALL COURTeSIEs.
Potent Factors In the Happiness OF Our
Daily Lives.

Potent Factors I'm the Happiness OF Our
Daily Lives.
Life is so complex, its machinery so
intricate, that it is impossible that the
wheels should always move smoothly
and without friction. There is con-
tinued straining Of every nerve TO gain
and keep place in this over-crowded
busy world. What wonder IL in the
hurry and pushing the rights of others
are trampled 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 friendship
the encouraging smile, the apprecia-
tive word, the thought of our prefer
ences, the avoidance of our prejudices
which make life easier, and which
lessen in marvellous degree all
it's worries and perplexities For
nothing prevents friction SO perfectly
as the exercise of what we sometimes
disdainfully call the minor virtues. AS
though one should be endowed with
truth, and yet, lacking prudence and
delicate insight and circumspection,
wound with sharp needle pricks the
sensitive nearer. We do not care to be
constantly reminded OF our failings.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend, Z"
but friends too often show fondness
for the scalpel, and lay bare our pet
weaknesses in truthful but exceed
ingly uncomfortable fashion.
A gentlewoman never fails in the
small sweet courtesies. Instinctively
she respects the feeling of others, and
having the golden rule by heart, it is
from her heart that all lovely, love-
compelling graces flow. I'm her tongue
is the law of kindness" and she has the
ready tact which takes advantage Of
every opportunity to render the lives
of others happier.
And every morning, with Good day"
Makes each day good.
Her winning smile and gentle minis
tration, her soft voice and unfailing
sympathy, insure her always 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
peculiar charm and attraction. The
courteous, cheerful maiden who draws
water for the withered old crone, and
who listens to her, and replies with
amiability, is rewarded with the gift of
uttering pearls and diamonds; and, in
the less romantic German version,
Frau HOLE bestows gold pieces as the
reward of civility and diligence with
that delightful pro digality SO charac-
teristic of fairy-land.
The small sweet courtesies are SO DO
tent in their influence upon our daily
life, softening its asperities, rounding
it's angles, and insensibly compelling
imitation. For who could be churlish,
or even cold and indifferent, when sur
rounded 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 forgetfulness; but to those
who long for the admiration of their
fellow-creatures, the practice of the
small sweet courtesies can be recon-
mended as an unfailing means of gain
ing that appreciation. Mr.. Browning
expresses it thus:
Twas her thinking of others made you think Of
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 Of despise;
For naught that sets an heart at ease,
And giveth happiness or peace,
Is low esteem ed in her eyes.
-Harper's Weekly