Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-28

that amiability is the first grace WHICH
a man should try TO cultivate. as 1t Is the
highest In the first place. IL mai '-as
Intellectual or moral or physical pI"ef'
amiabIIity Will not only save all waste
but It Will open its way. commend IT, ana
make Il ten times more effective anu
seryiceable. And I'm the second place.
II a man is poorly endowed, or even de-
ficient amiability will compensate his de-
fciencies, and almost inpart beauty
and grace to his faults. Unamlapiilty
binders OF annuls the best efforts OF man
hood, and makes folly uncomfortable. so.
for wise man or fool, the nrst anu
best thing Is TO be amiable.
Availability commends, facilitates, onn
advances every cause IL advocates. Ana
unamiabillty impedes or destroys every
thing IL has TO do with. and makes us
memory odious. 1t is stupid and sense
less thing to underrate amiabiity. Inc
next thing 10 that Is TO cultivate lima
ture, and magnify moroseness. II all the
world were set on amiabllity universal
harmony and happiness would be estab-
lished in the fulhlment OF the law OF love.
which manifests the nature and being Oh
God. II all the world were the other
way, the lower regions would be upon
us. Still this divine grace has its poor
style and its counterfeits that discredit II.
It's moor style is amiable. because IL has
neither the wit nor the energy 10 ee
anything else. II Is negative. IL is not
settled upon principle nor energized by
good will. II Is easily converted. and, Ike
some other sweet things, 1t readily passes
into the sour. II cannot be relied on
but will astonish you at the oldest times
with unamiabiities. The counterfeit OF
amiability Is the professional and con-
yentional; the smile of commerce, or OF
society. IT almost makes man sick.
II makes one rather crave the sourest
pickle, refresh himself with thoughts or
the ruggedost countenances. one feels
quite like bloody and worn-out Hotspur
on the field OF battle when the young
courtier presented himself
Fresh as n bridegroom; and his chin
new-reaped,
Showed like stubble-held at harvest
home;
He was perfumed Ike a milliner;
And 'twixt his finger and his thumb he
held
A pouncet-box. which. ever and anon
He gave his nose. and took II away again.
And sim he smiled and talked
with many holiday and lady terms.
A little too much for the tired warrior,
who answered. neglectingly, he knew not
what, 1t made him mad
To see him shine 30 brisk, and smell so
sweet:
And talk so like a waiting gentlewoman.
What man can keep his temper In such
a presence? That sort Of creature not
only dlscredits amiabiity but makes III
manners an honorable accomplishment,
and brutality a dernier resort-ultima
ratio--refreshing.
Solomon's severest satire was levelled
at mercenary and heartless amiability:
The desire Of a man is his kindness
Waking up early 10 latter should put a
man on his guard against the flatterer
All good things suffer in public cstima-
ton by the passing success Of counter
fets and frauds. But though all things
foul should wear the brow of grace yet
grace would still look so. And the
prevalence Of frauds drives us all out OF
the markets and public places into out
of-the-way corners to look for the good
and the true.
The greatest Of human philosophers has
given true and unmistakable account
Of intelligent amiability. In an immortal
chapter he has told us all about 1t, with
in and without. The soul rejoices in
the wonderful description Of the Divine
grace Of intelligent amiabiiity, which
Christendom knows, and will know. as
Charity; whose light and life IS the love
Of God and man. established In reason
and the profoundest wisdom: That Is,
kind TO all.