Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-01-15


- how Il benigaant spirit may be fos-
tered: text, |. Peter H., 8. BE courteous"
In an age when bluntness has been
canonized as virtue it may be useful
TO extol one of the most beautiful Of all
the royal family Of graces courtesy. 1t
Is graci0uSness, Difference to the wishes
of others, good manners, affability, will
ingness TO deny ourselves 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 it is?
Christian courtesy is born in the heart
by the pow ar of the Holy Ghost. who has
transforms, and illumined and glorifed
ones natrre. Mark you. | am speaking
of the highest kind of courtesy, which is
Christian courtesy. Something like it,
ordinary politeness-may grow up with
us under the direction of intelligent and
watchful parentage, but | am not speak
ing of that which is merely agreeable
ness of conversation and behavior. All
that may be a matter of tutelage and fine
surrounding and show itself i'll 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 understanding all the
laws Of pr, ference at table and parlor
door, all of which is well. l am speaking
of principle Of courtesy so implanted in
ones nature that his suavity of CONVEX
sation 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 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 post undesirable people have
been seeming incarnations of courtesy.
In our early American history there arose
a man IT wonderful talent, an impersona-
ton OF all that can charm drawing rooms
and cultivated circles. iced men who
knew him in their youl have told me
that he was the most irresistible man
they ever met, his voice silvery, his smile
bewitching, his glove immaculate, his eye
piercing, his high forehead wreathed in
curls, his attire fascination. He be-
came Vice-President of the United States
and within one vote of being President.
Men threw away their fortunes to help
him in his political aspirations and to
forward him in a conspiracy 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 ii that the offend
er | speak of was an embodiment of dis
soluteness and base ambition. He was
the best Illustration that know of of the
fact that man may have the appearance
of courtesy while within he is all wrong.
Absalom, Bible character, was a spec
linen of a man of polish outside and of
rottenness inside Beautiful, brilliant
and with such wealth of hair that when
it was cut in each December as a matter
of pride he had it weighed, and it weigh
ed 200 shekels. He captured all who
came near him. But. oh, what a heart
he had--full of treachery and unflial
spirit and baseness He was a. bad as
he was alluring and charming.
| like what John Wesley said to a
man when their carriages met on the
road. The ruffian, knowing Mr.. W asley
and disliking him, did not turn out but
kept the middle of the road Mr. Wes-
ley cheerfully gave the man all the road,
himself riding into the ditch. As they
passed each other the ruffian said, Il
never turn ont for fools and Mr.. Yves
ley said, Il always do" l like the
reproof which Chinaman in San Fran
cisco gave an American. The American
pushed him off the sidewalk until he fell
into the mud The Chinaman on rising
began to brush off the mud and said to
the American: You Christian; me heath
en-. Goodby." A stranger entered a
church in one of the cities and was al
lowed to stand a long while. although
there was plenty of room. No one offered
seat The stranger after awhile said to
one of the brethren, what church is
this?' The answer was, "Christ's church,
sir rs he n?' said the stranger. The
officer of the church understood what was
meant and gave him a seat We want
more courtesy in the churches. more cour-
tesy in places Of business, more courtesy
in our homes.
But heart courtesy must precede hand
and head and foot courtesy. Cultivation
Of it should begin in the fathers house
You OF on notice that brothers and sisters
are often gruff and snappy and say things
and do tn ngs that they would not have
the outsid. world know about. Rough
things are sometimes said in households
which ought never to be said at all-teas-
ing and recrinination and fault finding
and harsh crit eism, which will have their
echo thirty ard forty and fifty years af-
terward. We never get over our first
home, however many homes we may
have afterward.
Cultivate Christian Grace.
Let us all cultivate this grace Of Chris
tan courtesy by INDUCING in the habit
of praise instead OF the habit Of blame
There are evils in the world that we
must denounce, and there are men and
women who ought TO be chastised, but
never let Us allow the opportunity Of APP
plauding good deeds pass unimprOyed.
The old theory was that you must never
praise people lest We make them vain.
No danger Of that. Before any Of as get
through with life we will have ep"Hgh
mean and ignoble and depreciating and
lying things said about US to keep US
humble. God approvingiy recognizes
system of rewards as well as Of punish
ments.
When you hear a good sermon, stop
after the henediction and tell the pastor,
though you never saw him before that
day. Your sermon did me good. When
a mechanic does a good piece q work.
tell him II Is well done When q ply