The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-28
THE AMENITIES OF LIFE.

I ,
would he better done, with more serenity Of
cmpcr aud under more harmonious condi-
Mons. il the amenities OF life we're better
In the same way. life itself, as
tarried on in the homo aud the family, would
run more easily and would therefore lead TO
HAMMER rcsul,s II these same amenities were
regarded as necesshrles rather than as luxu-
rics.
In these DAYS women are encouraged to take
an active interest In work OF all hnde--,n
oucs,ions connected With education. phiian-
thropy. legislation. medicine, nursing. and 30
on.
Women Of ali classes, Of all axes, and OF
varied brain power. meet on common plat
form, and are perpetunlly comins upon one
another In their many and diverse walks 81
llfe. They are necessarily brought very much
into prominence and their social relationship
with one another and with men has naturally
been much extended. II they arc capable
earnest, or brilliant women, they feel tnnt
they rightfully hold certain power. tha'
their words and their onnions carry some
weight. This is but the natural result OF the
devoted lives they are leading, or of their
intellectual distinction; when they rise to
really hrst-rate emlnence you Will mud they
often add humility to talent. and that they are
modest about their own achievements.
The greater the work. the greater should
he the humility. for in nine cases out OF ten
the worker feels that she hns been outsrlppod
by many others IN the very path she mas
chosen; and II she has generous nature, sue
will admire the more thorough or successful
competitor and not spoil her humility by envy
II this be her frame OF mind, she viii nave u
very clear notion Of the amenities OF lte'
and. IL she adds certain grace or charm OF
manner and tact In her relation to other
1 workers. she will not fail to bring about n
little kingdom of heaven upon earth
49,
Good work can sulcr from bad manners
Women with the best Intentions, the highest
motives. and Hottest aspirations can make
themselves so intensely dsagreeable that the
worf-an the worker get cordially disliked'
Some people think there is certain brac'
iug quality in being disagreeable u AZ
ways speak the TRUTH is a phrase we hear
over and over again from tho best of women p
TIC best but not the most tactful ~ gave
her a bit of my mind" but why should
always he the most dsagrceablc bit7 Wh!
should not the truth be gently and k'ndlN
spoken? Why blurted out into the face
some shrinking woman recipient why NO
, len unspoken at times where II can do NJ
good and can but act as salve to the speak
or's conscience? Why say. for instance, Win
out previous doliberaton or thought. to som
friend engaged in a work that ahsorbs ne
life: "My dear Miss c., you are taking a
immense deal of trouble about the suhiec
IN which you are interested, but really
is very unimportant, and 1t is pity yo
should waste so much time over IT; / do nc
z think YOU know how little importance 1t bear
lust outside your own circle Poor MlsS l
b gives a SILVER. goes home to reflect upon ne
her own shortcomings, but the uselessness
= her object in life, loses heart, works bad'
and becomes failure; or she may give wa
J. to a burst Of undignihed passion that Is ne
s in keeping with tho career she has mappe
out for herself.
70 on another day Mrs. s. hnds her very 10
u and detected, or hurt and revengeiui, or
starts at the recollection Of her own wore
B. spoken In the pride and strength Of her oN
achievements She has ruined a life, but ~
eS only spoke the truth as she thought 1t ahou
be spoken.
To the Nineteenth Century Mrs, Hugh ~
,h contributed very original aud pungent pap
he on "a Plea for the Better Teaching Of Ma
K, porsistently taught and practiced In {
m home. there would not be so much to lear
as and especially TO unlearn with regard to
nd t.rcourse with the world al large. PeoT
he would not then have two manners-one
use I'm public and one in private ] am n
he saying, of course that in every respect /
he code of behavior should be tho same at hoI
tn ne abroad: only the difference. 1t seems
'el me should lie in the direction of there bel
~ less reserve in the family circle than amo
a strangers. but not less genteness and cot
MS tesy"
en- IIomo life can be made delightful or
art reverse BY observing or disrogardng
amenities OF life. Boys gro trained to
ew courageous; why not TO be courteous to tn
nd sisters and sisters friends? Girls who,
Of running their brothers hard at work
ler MAY. are developed into splendid youns -
APP desses of height and form. may be trained
e. be- gentle to their less fortunate elders
ris have not had their chances with the ten
IN racket or the golf club.
Cd We know that both Dorothea In "Midd
ess march" and Catherine In "Robert Elsmer
Ing by their somewhat strained views OF exl
rial once brought about Kind of revolt In IN
hi nearest to them. In the persons Of their
airy tors Celia and Rose, while, unknown
to themselves. their virtues serene and unbe
nc ing. developed into form of selhshnes
aud ~
AS sense Of humor gives us true Sc
Of proportion, 80 does a feeling for the am'
IT'S ties OF life give us an instinct Of real 5!
uathy with others--the sympathy that ma
ing II blessed TO receive as well as TO give.
le' Time is not wasted in adding to II
" amenities The comfort and elegance Of
''l living rooms the careful arrangement
oou flowers, the harmony Of color, and the STR
w, o. music all add to the pleasure Of eh
VI enee. And these pleasures bring legitin
nm, happiness-such happiness as is not loo
- up in one persons breast but overho"
neu, makes the lives OF many brighter.
on No home life can be erfeet without s
,u'u psthy; no public life can be at its best
out tactfu spontaneously generous fee
for others; IN a word, the fine manners
e"e come from a good heart arc essential to
way Lady Batters'
re to
a., The Life struggle.