Connecticut western news., 1902-01-16


 course Dr. Talmage urges thoughtful ness for others and shows how such a Lenignant spirit may be fostered; text, I Peter ii, 8, Be courteous"
 In an age when bluntness has been canonized as a virtue 1t may be use ful to extol one of the most beautiful of all the royal family of graces-' courtesy. It is graciousness, deference to the wishes of others, good manners, affability, willingness to deny our selves somewhat for the advantage of others, urbanity. But what Is the use of my defining the grace of courtesy when we all know so we'll what 1t isf The botanist might say some very in- teresting things about a rose. and the chemist might discourse about water or light, but without ever seeing botanist or a chemist we know what a rose Is and what water and light are. Do not take our time in telling us what courtesy is. Only show us how we may get more of it and avoid what are its commercials. Mark you, 1t cannot be put on or dramatized sue cessfully for a long while. We may be full of bows and genuflections, and smiles and complimentary phrase. and have nothing of genuine courtesy ei- ther in our makeup or in our de rieanor A backwoodsman who never saw a drawing room or dancing mas ter or a caterer or a fold of drapery may with his big soul and hard hand and awkward salutation exercise the grace, while one born under richest upholstery and educated in foreign schools, and bothered to know which of ten garments he will take from a royal wardrobe. may be as barren of the spirit of courtesy as the great Sa- hara desert Is of green meadows and tossing fountains.
 Christian courtesy is born in the heart by the power of the Holy Ghost, who has transformed and illumined and glorified ones nature. Mark you. l am speaking of the highest kind of courtesy, which is Christian courtesy. Something like it-ordinary politeness may grow up with us under the d1- rection of intelligent and watchful percentage, but I am not speaking of that which is merely agreeableness of conversation and behavior. An that may be a matter of tutelage and fine surrounding and show itself in lifting the hat to passersby and in a graceful way of asking about your health and sending the right kind of acceptance when you can go and the right kind of regrets when you cannot go and under standing all the laws of preference at on nA rrv1,t oh fC well. I am speaking of a principle of courtesy so implanted in one's HAture that his suavity of conversation and manner shall be the outburst of what lie feels for the happiness and welfare of others. a principle that will work in the next world as we'll as in this and will be as appropriate in the man. sions of heaven as in earthly dwelling places.
 Undesirable People.
 Now, you know as well as do that some of the most undesirable people have been seeming incarnations- of courtesy. In our early American his- tory there arose a man of wonderful talent. an impersonation of all that can charm drawing rooms and culti- vated circles. Aged men who knew him in their youth have told me that he was the most irresistible man they ever met. his voice silvcry, his smile bewitching, his glove immaculate, his eye piercing, his high forehead wreath ed in curls, his attire fascination. He became vice president of the Unit ed States and within one vote of being president. Men threw away their for tunes to help him in his political aspi- rations and to forward him in con spiracy to overthrow the government of the United States, he trying to do in America what Napoleon at that very time was trying to do in Europe establish throne for himself. But he was immoral and corrupt. He was the serpent that wound its way into many a domestic paradise. He shot to death one of the greatest of Americans = Alexander Hamilton. The world found out long before he left 1t that the offender speak of was an embodi- meut of dissoluteness and base ambi tion. He was the best illustration that I know of of the fact that man may have the appearance of courtesy while within he Is all wrong.
 Absalom, a Bible character, was a specimen of a man of polish outside and of rottenness inside. Beautiful, brilliant and with such wealth of hair that when 1t was cut in leach Decem- Der as a matter of pride he had 1t weighed, and it weighed POO shekels. He captured all who came near him. But, oh, what heart he had-full of treachery and unfllial spirit and base ness! He was as bad as he was al turing and charming.
 In the famous Athenian Alcibiades history discourses of the same splendor of manner covering utter depravity. Noble pedigree, transcendent abilities, radiant personality. eloquent tongue, triumphant warrior, victor at Olympic games, but a debauchee and an inn personation of all the vices. Alas, that all up and down history and clear on into our day there are so many of what Christ called wolves in sheep's clothing" - .'whitewashed sepulchers, full of dead mems bones and all un- eleannessr' Gilded abominations, walk ing laZarettos, attired in vermilion aud gold. Perdition hanging out the ban- ncrs of heaven. As far as possible are they removed from all genuine cour- tesy. Ae-.-. .--...
 Heart Courtesy.
 like what John Wesley said to a man when their carriages met on the road. The rufian, knowing MT. Wes- ley and disliking him, did not turn out, but kept the middle of the road. MT. Wesley cheerfully gave the man all the road, himself riding into the ditch. As they passed each other the ruff1an said, "I never turn out for fools," and Mir. Wesley said, "I always do." like the reproof which a Chinaman in San Francisco gave an American. The American pushed him off the sidewalk until he fell into the mud. The China. man on rising began to brush on the