Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-12
Good Manners.
The Observations OF a Philosophical
Friend of Ours.)

The Observations of a Philosophical
Friend Of Ours.)
Lord Chesterfield favored the world
with q book on good manners, made up
of letters to his sen, q young blood and
society nan. And yet. with all his so
ciety wings. the young fool was drowned
in vice and oblivion. Old DR.. Johnston
made a picture Of the father. with such
coloring and expression that It is not
much of compliment to be called a veri-
table "Lord Chesterfeld"-a splendid,
snowy, heartless hypocrite.
Not thousand years ago, an English
man, who wooed and won a leader of So
ciety about here: very immense and
very Frenchy.f critically described her
as having "a great deal of marnerism,
but no manners" The case Is reported
In the Society Books" and quoted as
authority. 1t Is best not to overdo
things. Vaulting ambition Is not I'M
frequently sprawled to amuse the crowd
and point moral; the moral being.
"Nequid minis"
No doubt, there are rules. observances.
and forms that must be regarded, ac-
knowledged, rand obeyed to make social
intercourse agreeable. Harmony and
concord are necessary everywhere. There
Is a right and a wrong way or doing
things In social life the right way Is
good manners; the wrong way, bad man
ners. The mere pretence or cloak or
show Is mannerism. Our friends Dull
cinea was mere imposture. or apology.
for a lady. Both are pretty much for
gotten. while the lesson OF their society
life remains.
Horses have their carriage and gaits:
SO have dogs and cattle. and animals OF
AN sorts. Their size, shape, and bear
ing mark and distinguish them as Of
high or low degree; and they are as God
made them; and their merit is to be-
have themselves as becomes their place.
II they do SO. their manners are said
TO be good The nature OF the animal
good. bad. or Observation-Disclosures itself
I'm the habits and ways and manners Of
the animal. A good tree cannot bring
forth evil fruit; neither can a corrupt
tree bring forth good fruit Every tree
Is known by his own fruit. Just so men
and women manifest themselves. The
commonplace world makes q common
place code after its commonplace IDEAL:
and its ideal Is q fashion-plate. Blunted
sensibilities, INDUCED pride, and gratified
lusts are its leading characteristics. A
thoroughly perverted nature is the grand
result The out-givings are society man.
ners, having the form Of decency. with
out Its power or flavor or spirit SO we
have the proper word. form" as the
governing law.
Forms and shows and semolances of
good are abhorrent and repulsive to hon.
est and sincere natures. They wound.
offend. and put to flight the holy spirit
Ct manhood and womanhood: and the
splendid shows OF ambitious worldlinesa
are the mere ghosts and ignes fatuae of
manhood and womanhood.
The elegancies and proprieties and de-
cencies Of genteei life necessitate good
manners. But good manners como OF
good breeding. They arc not to be
learned from dancing-masters or foreign
governesses. or hired tutors. A low OF
foul nature. barely concealed b. its pre-,
tensions or cosmetics. II all the more
offensive fcr it, disguisss. An honorable
and pure and kindly heart win impari
IT. xiow and sweetness to al it, environ
msnts. and radiats IL hallowed inlu-
snce. And every good heart viii be fr<e
Il TIE exsrci1p e IL own efIeotionA o,,d