San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-02-07
SUNDAY, JANUARY "a, 1897.
ONLY VENEER.

highly polished and with the most
intricate grain possible. But with all
this it must look natural. That which
shows that it is veneered does not
pass muster, while that which sue
cessfully covers up the counterfeit is
as readily accepted as the solid body
itself. Go into n furniture store, among
the collections of polished woods,
into the reception rooms and cabinets
of the wealthy, and yOu will note
what stress is laid upon native
growths and grain, The very idea of
veneer is secuted, and those who have
had a piece of yeneered wood passed
upon them for solid are accounted
parvenues, neurich, shOddy and all
the rest. This sentiment has gone
down deep and the cry is against the
veneer in mind, manners. and morals
as well as woods.
The Light preacher is by no means
certain that this cry is healthy one.
True. the Nazarine in common with
the best teachers of all ages, has pro-
nounced against the making clean the
outside of the platter while the inside
was full of all uncleanness. but this
does not cover the situation. though
it is often cited to do SO. There is
great difference between putting the
best foot foremost, and doing it rs a
matter of course. and keeping the foot
that is out of sight foul and I'M
healthy. There is all the difference
in the world between putting the pol
ish on the outside and purpOSely keep
ing the inside rough, filthy and I'M
slightly. While this is true. it is also
true that there is a virtue in present
ing the best to the outside, showing
the surface to the best advantage,
yeueering the cOarser fibreS of the
common every day existence and life
and showing a polish there that does
not go all the way through.
1t has been too much the fashion
in the world, in society, in the church,
in business, in the scientific world to
put a premium on this outside rough
ness and make it stand for a virtue
that it does naturally or necessarily
possess. Old Sam Johnson and Cyni-
cal Thomas Carlisle are examples of
the infelicity of turning the worst
side of the nature outside and raSping
everything that comes in its way.
Goethe had very much in common
with Carlisle, both as to his philOso-
ply and his intellectualism, but he had
a graciousneSS of manner that was
wholly unknown to the old Scotch
man, and because of it he has home
in the heart of Germany, while Car
lysle has only a home in the head Of
his countrymen. No one who under
stands the influence of the thought
of Goethe upon his countrymen will
assert that he lost an atom of his in
tellectual power by his graciOuSncsS
and suayity:.
Politeness has its own charm. 1t
has charm all its own whether it is
true or simulated, and if the genuine
article is not to be had, then it is far
better to take the veneer. There is
nothing in all the range of education
in the home, at school, in business,
in society, in church, in Office, any
where. that counts for more than this
habit of being smooth on the outside
+ True. it is the stock in trade of the
politician, and the slick confidence
man, but no more so than it is of the
successful minister or doctor or teach
er. Exceptions there are of course
but these only prove the rule. There
I is no reason why the devil should
| have all the best tunes, so thought big
Drained John Wesley, and there is nc
Npeed of letting the roue and the gam
bfer and the POLITICAL fraud have al
the advantage of soft manner and q
persuasive tongue.
1t is time that the gospel of veneer
was taught in the schools and in the
churches as well as in the gambling
rooms and in the gilded places where
manner is so much more than matter
The churches are in need of it. fol
there is no place in the world where
the lack of n true or simulated polite,
ness is more apparent than in the &c.
clesiastic councils and in the sessions
of the churches. This is not brought
as an accusation against the church
but it is cited as Il fact that retards
the success of the church. So true
is this that the best thought and man
ners of the city churches of this land
revolt against the evangelistic meth
DDS OF the present
SO true is this that Dwight L
Moody, the least Objectionable as t.
manner and spirit of all the grea
modern revivalistS. is characterized
by the leading pulpits in Boston, AM
by the lions Herald. that radical re
ligiOus sheet. as too incisive. too plain
too unpublished, too little considerat
of the feelings and views of the pee
ole whom he addresses. This sin
DIV means that Mr. Moody is nc
suave enough to suit the culture 0
Boston. That its ethical and sOcia
sense is shocked by the lack o