The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-01-14

ness for others and shows how such a
benignant spirit may be fostered; text.
/ Peter ii, s. BE courteous"
In an age when biuntness has been
canOniZed as a virtue ii may be USE
full to extol one of the most beautiful
Of all the royal family of graces-
courtesy. 1t is graciousness. Difference
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 well what it is?
Z The botanist might say some very in
7 teresting things about q rose. and the
chemist might discourse about water
or light. but without ever seeing a
botanist or Il 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 cOunterfeits. Mark you,
1t cannot be put on or dramatiZed sue
c~essfully for Il long while. We may
be full of bows and ~genuflections. and
smiles and complimentary phrase. and
have nothing of genuine courtesy Ell
Their in our makeup Or in our de-
meanO A backwOOdsman who never
saw a drawing room or a dancing mas
ter or n caterer or n old 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 tax from Il
royal wardrobe. may be as barren Of
the spirit of courtesy as the great Sa-
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,
i am speaking of the highest kind Of
courtesy. which is Christian courtesy.
Something like it-Ordinary politeness
may grow up with US under the di-
rection of intelligent and watchful
parentage, but | am not speaking of
that which is merely agreeableness of
conversation and behavior. All that
NAV be q 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 parIor door. all of which is
well. l am speaking of a principle of
courtesy SO implanted in ones nature
that his suavity of conversation n
manner shall be the Outburst Of what
he feels for the happiness and welfare
of others. Il 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 we'll as | do that
some Of the most undesirable people
have beer seeming i%ncarnations Of
courtesy. In our early American his
tory there arose Il man Of wonderful
talent. an im~personation Of all that
can charm drawing rooms and cuiti-
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 silvery, his smile
bewitching. mis- glove immaculate. his
eye piercing. his high forehead wreath
ed i'm curls. his attire a 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 I'm his political .lSpi-
rations and to forward him in a 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 a 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 il that
the offender | speak of was an embodi-
mpnt Of d~iSsoluteneSS and base ambi-
ton. He was the best illustration that
] know of of the fact that a Il may
have the appearance of courtesy while
within he is all wrong
AbSalom. Il Bible character. was a
specimen of a man of polish outside
and of item inside Beautiful
brilliant and with such wealth OF hail
that when il was cut in each Decem'
Der as a matter of pride he had II
weighed. and ii weighed 200 shekels
He captured all who came near him
But. oh. what Il heart he had-full oil
treachery and unfiiial spirit and base
ness. He was as bad as he was al
Turing and charming
In the famous Athenian Alcibiades
history d~iscourseS of the same splendoI
of manner covering utter depravlty
Noble pedigree. transcendent abilities
radiant personality. eloquent tongue
triumphant warrior. victor at Olympic
! games bur a debauchee and an i'm
narSonation of all thp vices. Alas. that