Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-01-17
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.-Ip this dis
course DR.. Talmage urges thoughtful-
ness for others and shows how such a
benignant spirit may be fostered; text.
Peter ii. 8. "Be courteous"
In an age when bluntness has been
canonized as virtue IL 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 isl
The botanist might say some very In
tereshng things about a rose. and the
chemist might discourse about water
or light, but without ever seeing n
botanist or q chemist we know what
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 it's counterfets. Mark you.
ii cannot be put on or dramatized sue
cessfully for n long while. We may
be full of bows and genufections, and
smiles and complimentary phrase, and
have nothing of genuine courtesy eli
ther in our makeup or in our de
meanor. A backwoodsman who never
saw a drawing room or dancing mas
ter or caterer or n fold of drapery
may with his big soul and hard hand
n - no
grace, while one born under richest
upholstery and educated in foreign
schools. aud 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.
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
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 graceful
way of asking about your health and
sending the right kind of acceptance
when you can so and the right kind of
regrets when you cannot so and under
standing all the laws of preference at
table and parlor door. all of which is
well. i am speaking of n principle of
courtesy so implanted I'm ones nature
that his suavity of conversation and
manner shall be the outburst of what
he feels for the happiness and welfare
OF others. n principle that will work
in the next world as well as I'm 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 incarnatlons OF
courtesy. In our early American his
tory there arose n 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 silvery. his smile
bewitching. his glove immaculate. his
eye piercing, his high forehead wreath
cd in 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 in his political aspi-
rations and TO forward him I'm 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 domestic paradise. He shot IA
death one or the greatest OF Americans
Alexander Hamilton. The world
found out long before he left II that
the offender speak OF was an embodi-
ment of dissoluteness and base ambi.
ton. BE was the best illustration that
know OF OF the fact that man may
have the appearance OF courtesy while
within be is all wrong.
Absalom. a Bible character, was O
specimen OF man OF polish outside
and OF rottenness inside. Beautiful
brilliant and with such wealth OF hair
that when it was cut in each Deem
Der as a matter OF pride he had Il
weighed, and Ii weighed zoo shekels
He captured all who came near him
But. oh. what heart he had-full OF
treachery and unfilial 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
or manner covering utter depravity
Noble pedigree. transcendent abilities
radiant personality. eloquent tongue
triumphant warrior. victor at Olympic
games. but a debauchee and an i'm
personation OF sill the vices Alas. thai
all up and down history and clear or
into our day there are so many OF
what Christ called wolves In sleeps
clothing "whitewashed sepulcbers
full OF dead mems bones and all un
cieanness? Gilded denominations. walk
ing lazarettos, attired in vermiiion and
gold. Perdition hanging out the ban
ners OF heaven. AS far as possible are
they removed from all genuine cour
tesy.
Heart Courtesy.
Ike what John Wesley said to
man when their carriages met on tn,
road. The ruffian, knowing Mr.. Yves
ley and disliking him, did not turn out
but kept the middle of the road. Mr.
Wesley cheerfully gave the man all tn,
road, himself riding into the ditch Al
they passed each other the rulIian said
Il never turn out for FOOLS" and Mr.
Wesley said, II always do" like tn,
reproof which q -Chipapan Sifs Sal
Francisco gave ans sx1aefiean. TIL,
American pushed him off the Sidewalk
until he fell intoSthe mud The China
man on rispg begap, to brush OFF thu
Christian Inc sfeaflien. Goodby.p 4
stranger-entered church in one o.
the cities and was allowed to stand