Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-01-16

ness LOT OtDprS ana SHOWS now SUCH
benignnnt spirit may be fostercd; text,
! Peter ii, g, "Be courteous"
In an age when bluntness has been
canonized as a virtue it may be use
full to extol ono of the most beautiful
of all the royal family of graccs-
courtesy. 1t is graciousncss, Difference
to the wishes of others, good manners.
affabilty, 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 well what 1t is!
The bOtanist might say some very in
tcrcsting things about rose. ana the
chemist might DISCOURSE about water
or light, but without ever seeing Il
bOtanist or q chemist we know what
n 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 moro of 1t and avoid
what are its counterfcits. Mark YOU,
it cannot he put on or dramatizcd sue
ccssfuly for Il long while. We may
be full of bows and gcnullcctions, and
smiles and complimentary phrase. ana
have nothing of genuine courtesy ci-
thor in our makeup or in our de-
mcanor. 4 backwoodsmAn who never
saw drawing room or dancing mas
ter or Il caterer or fold of drnpery
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 Il
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 illumlncd
and glorfied ones nature. Mark you,
! am speaking of the highest kind of
courtesy, which is Christian courtesy.
Something like it-ordinary politcncss
may grow up with us under the di-
rection of intelligent and watchfuI
parentage, but | am not speaking of
that which is merely agreeablcness of
conversation and behavior. All that
may be n 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 20 and the right kind Of
regrets when you cannot go and under
standing all the laws Of preference AT
, table and parlor door. all of which is
well. | am speaking of principle OF
courtesy so implanted in ones nature
> that his suavlty of conversation and
manner shall be the outburst of what
he feels for the happiness and welfare
of others. principle that will work
in the next world as well as in this
and will he 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 cming incarnations OF
, courtesy. In our early American his
tory there arose man of wonderful
] talent, an impersonation Of all that
can charm drawing rooms and cult
waited circles. Aged men who knew
him in their youth have told me that
he was the most Irresistible man they
ever met his voice silyery, his smile
, bewitching, his glove immaculate, hi,
eye piercing, his high forehead wreath
cd in curls. his attire n fascination
He became vice president of the Unit
ed States and within one vote of beini
president Men threw away their for
tunes to help him in his political aspi
rations and to forward him in n con
i spiracy to overthrow the government
of the United States he trying to &c
. in America what Napoleon ut tina
= very time was trying to do in Europe
g establish throne for himself. But h'
was immoral and corrupt. He was
the serpent that wound its way int
-, many a domestic paradise. He shot t.
. death one Of the greatest of American
= Alexander Hamilton. The worlC
found out long before he left it tina
the offender speak of was an embodi
ment of dssolutcness and base ambi
ton. He was the best illustration tina
| know of Of the fact that man ma!
have the appearance of courtesy while
within he is all wrong.
: Absalom, q Bible character. was
j specimen OF n man of polish outsid
and OF rottcnness inside. Beautiful
brilliant and with such wealth OF hal
that when 1t was cut in each Decem
Der as matter of pride he had
, weighed, and it weighed 200 shekels
He captured all who came near hin
n But, oh, what heart he had-full o
r treachery and unfilial spirit and base
y ness! He was as bad as he was a
Turing and charming.
In the famous Athenian Adelaide
I history discourses of the same splendo
!, of manner covering utter depravity
= Noble pedigree, transcendent abilities
radiant personality, eloquent tongue
triumphant warrior, victor at Olympi
s gaines, but debauchee and m in
+ personation of all the vices. Alas, tina
T oil up and down history and clear o
into our day there are SO many @
what Christ called EVOLVES in sheep
n clothing" - "whitewashed sepulcher'
Il full of dead mems bones and all III
cleanness" Gided denominations, wall
.ng lazalettos. ultreu in vermillon an
y gold. Perdition hanging out the bar
ncrs of heaven. AS far as possible ar