Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-01-28


CoLUnn. OxfOri Democrat Paris. Maine
SINCERITY.
1t Il curious fact, and one which few
people will deny, that the ill-mauncred,
boorish, and brusquc are seldom consid-
cred insincere, while he who Ii uuiver-
sally polite, who has agreeable things to
say, and who says them, Is apt to have
his motives questioned and his good
faith brought up for doubtful discussion.
What travesty on human nature. As
though the harsher, more selfish In
stincts alone were integral parts OF II.
But granting that insincerity exists,
that society may be full Of II, that popu-
lar men are not without it, and that many
politicians are fostered by It, shall tact
and graciousness. kindly speech and con-
siderate thought, be deemed on that ac-
count insinceref Shall boorishness and
rudeness, indeed, be accepted as more
sincere than they?
For our part we do not believe that
they can be. Though darkness cannot
comprehend light; though selishness
cannot comprehend unselhshness; incon-
sideration, consideration-light, unset
fishness, and consideration exist for oil
that, and the man who Is rude Is no whit
more sincere than he who Is courteous.
~ don't believe in pretending to care
for a person when | DON'T" says Mr..
Jones who answers your morning salu-
tation with jerk Of the head. Itafiects
YOU like blow. Mr.. Jones prides him.
self on his sincerity, and he does not
know that with this boosted virtue he has
been very near to committing crime
For a crime IL does seem TO respond 10
courtesy with discourtesy. 1t chills the
artior OF another. and sends him away
self-conscious aud hurt, and worse than
all, with the spring OF his kindly I'M
pulses to others for the time being
checked. Better that milestone were
about Jones' neck.
"Then would you have me n hypo-
critic p this gentleman asks. No. But
we would not have you Boosting to your
self virtue you do not possess. SINGER
ity in itself alone Is no virtue. To be
good and sincere Is vlrtuous, not TO be
bad and sincere.
Mr.. Robinson, on the other hand, has
way OF saying good-morning That
makes YOU cheerful for the day. His
smile as he greets you Is like flicker OF
sunlight. You are cheered and warmed,
and every now and then, for hours after,
you stop and wonder what good thing
has happened TO you. Mr.. Jones, OF
course, thinks Mr.. Robinson insineere
that no man can possibly feel good will
for each OF his acquaintsnces. But then,
Mr.. Jones does not know that Mr.. Rob
insou's goodwill Is part OF his very
nature. DO more TO be suppressed than
his own selfishness Is to be denied.
Mr.. Jones may not know one thing
more--that there are people who have
made courtesy, cheerfulness, the kindly
word. and the polite acknowledgment
part of what they understand right liy-
ing To be. These are the people who,
knowing how discourtesy. even when
sincere, will hurt, have taken their stand
BY courtesy. These are people who,
knowing that goodness and cheerfulness
are developed By being believed In, have
determined TO believe. These, too, are the
people, who, recognizing good Instead oil
evil AS A positive force, 90 about 10 lind II
the good In people, the good In things,
the good In life, even the good In pain
Evil Is not discussed by them, SANDER
not disseminated. When they look be
meath the surface II Ia not 10 detect a
lurking evil, but TO discover good. In
the weakness Of friend they seek ior
strength; in the awkwardness OF child
the motive that has faltered. These they
foster and encourage To make cheer.
| ful sslutation, even when depressed ana
out OF sorts themselves, would never
seem iusincere to them, because cheer
fulness Is part of their principle OF liv-
ing. To thank hostess for hospitality,
even when that hospitality has bored,
has 10 them no flavor Of insincerity In II,
because they never forget the kindly I'm
pulse which first prompted II. To say
gentle word to those for whom they have
no affection l. not an insineere act viii
them, because gentieness and goodwill
have become part and substance OF theif
being, aud must be expressed.
They who talk most about sincerity
are those, il sometimes seems, who need
to make excuses for themselves for their
lack OF many virtues, their dearth oil
gentle impulses. This IL the rock on
which so many split.
By sincerity alone the world Is not to
be made better, but by love and charity
consideration and beneficence, unselfish-
ness, purity of purpose, desire for the
common good. These are the things to
be cultivated. Make them real, and sin'
cerity will no longer be wrongly ideal
lied, exalted for It's own sake, apart
from the quality il expresses, and on
which its true value depends. Neither
will sincerity any longer be questioned
the sincerity even Of those who arr
universally polite, who have agreeable
things to say, and who say them.-Har'
per's Bazar.