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


the tune and kneel with the penitents
mt the altar. In all these places there
are mon who could, without looking at
the book, recitc the sublime words, as
did Gladstone during vacation at Ha-
warden, 81 believe in God, the Father
Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ" and from the sen
ate and house Of representatives and
the presidential cabinet and from the
surrounding offices and committee
rooms, If they could hear, would come
many voices responding "Amen and
emenv
"Tf You PIense.-
Christian courtesy I especially COM
mend to those who have subordinates.
Almost every person has some one I'M
der him. How do you treat that clerk,
that servant. that assistant that en-
ployec? DO you accost him in brusque
terms and roughly command him to do
that which you might kindly ask him
to do? The last words that the Duke
Of Wellington uttered were, IF you
please That conQueror in what was
in some respects the greatest battle
ever fought in his last hours, asked by
his servant If he would take some tea,
replied. "If you please" his last words
an expression of courtesy. Beautiful
characteristic in any class. The day la
borers in Sweden. passing each other,
take off their hats in reverence. There
is no excuse for boorishness in any cir
clio. AS complete gentleman as ever
lived was the man who was endorsed
on the road to Damascus and bchcaded
on the road to Ostia-Paul. the apostle.
| know that he might be 50 character
lied by the way he apologized to Ana
Mas, the high priest. | know it from
the way he complmentcd Felix as a
judge and from the way he Crccts the
king, II thank myself, King Agrppa.
because | shall answer for myself this
day before thee touching all the things
whereof | am accused of the Jews, es-
pccially because | know thee to be OK
pert in all customs and questions
which are among the Jews" know
that Paul was n gentleman from the
way he opened his sermon on Mars
hill, not insulting his audience. as King
James translation implies. but saying.
aye men of Athens. | perceive that in
all things We are very devout." | know
he was a gentleman from the fact that
whom he. with others of n shpwreck,
on tho island of Melita visited the gov
ernor Of the island he was most i'm
pressed with the courtesy shown them
and reported that visit IN these words:
IL, L.,
sions OF the chief man of the island,
whose name was Publius. who receiv-
ed us and lodged us three days cour-
teously." And then see those words of
advice which he gives: Bear ye one
another's burdens" "In honor prefer
ring one another" "IIonor all men"
What a mighty means Of usefulness
is courtesy. The lack of it brings to
many a dead failure, while before
those who possess it in large quantity
all the doors of opportunity are open.
You can tell that urbanity does not
come from study of books of etiquette,
although such books have their use,
but from a mind full of thoughtful
ness for others and n heart in sym
pathy with the conditions of others. II
those conditions be prosperous, n glad
ness for the success. or If the condi-
tons be depressing n sorrow for the
unfavOrable circumstances. All. this
world needs lighting up. To those Of
us who are prosperous it is no credit
that we are I'm a state Of good cheer,
but in the lives of ninety-ninc out of Il
hundred there is a pathetic side, TAX
ing Off, deficit. an anxiety. a trouble.
BY a genial look, by kind word, by
a helpful action. we may lift a little
Of the burden and partly clear the way
for the stumbling foot. Oh, what a
glorious art it is to say the right word
in the right way at the right time!
How reprchcnsible the behavior Of
those who pride themselves on the OPP
posite quality and have n genius for
saying disagrecable things. using sar-
casm and retort not for lawful pur-
poses, but to sting and humiiate and
hurt! Didn't take him down."
Didn't | make him vince" Didn't
give it to him." That is the spirit
OF the devil, while the opposite is the
spirit of Christ
Make Others Happy.
Alexander the Great won the love OF
his soldiers on foot by calling them
fellow footmen. Rchohoam lost the
ten tribes through his discourtesy.
More thoughtfulness for others-let us
all cultivate 1t. That spirit was well
illustrated when the Birkenhead was
wrecked on the rocks and all knew
she must 60 down. Many soldiers
were on board. The drum sounded,
and the soldiers fell into line. The
women and children were got off in
the boats. Then the commander of
the ship said. Let all those who can