St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-02-22
A BEAUTIFUL GRACE.
Courtesy Extolled in This Sermon
by DR.. Talmage.

Thourhtfulness for Others IL Urge
How = Benignant Spirit May
BE FosteRed What the
World Needs.
copyright, 1902, by Louis Klopsch. N. Z
| Washington.
In this discourse DR.. Talmage urg'
thoughtfulness for others and show
how such q benignant spirit may (
fostered; text, Peter 2:s: "Be cou
teous."
! In an age when bluntness has bee
canonized as virtue it may be us'
full to extol one of the most bea,tif'
of all the royal family of graces-
courtesy. 1t is graciousness, defer
ence to the wishes of others, good mar
ners, affability, willingness to den
ourselves somewhat for the advantag
of others, urbanity. But what is tn
use of my defining the grace of coul
tesy when we all know so well what
is? The botanist might say some yer
interesting things about rose, an
the chemist nigh. discourse about wa
ter or light, but without ever seeing
botanist or a chemist we know wha
rose is and what water and ligh
are. Do not take our time in telling
us what courtesy is. Only show II
how we may get more of it and avoi'
what are it's counterfeits. Mark you
it cannot be put on or dramatized sue
cessfully for long while. We ma,
be full of bows and genudections, an,
smiles and complimentary phrase, ant
have nothing of genuine courtes!
either in our makeup or in our de
meanor. A backwoodsman who never
saw drawing-room or a dancing mas
ter or a caterer or a fold 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 take from q
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,
1 am speaking Of the highest kind of
courtesy, which is Christian courtesy.
Something like it-ordinary politeness
may grow up with us under the d.
rec1ion of intelligent and watchful
parentage, but I am not speaking of
that which is merely bleness Of
and behavior. All that
may be 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 go 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
we'll. I am speaking of a principle of
soimplanted in ones nature
that his suavity of conversation and
shall be the outburst of what
le feels for the happiness and welfare
It others, principle that will work
n the next world as we'll as in this
nd will be as appropriate in the man
ions of Heaven as in earthly dwelling
'laces.
Now, you know as we'll as do that
ONE of the most undesirable people
ave been seeming incarnations of
ourtesy. In our early American his
Dry there arose man of wonderful
alent, an impersonation of all that
an charm drawing-rooms and cult
ated circles. Aged men who knew
i'm in their youth have told me that
e was the. most irresistible man they
YER met, his voice silvery, his smile
ewitching, his glove immaculate, his
re piercing, his high forehead
'reathed in curls, his attire fascina-
on. He became vice president Of the
nited States and within one vote of |
eng president Men threw away
leir fortunes to help him in his polit-
al aspirations and to forward him in
conspiracy to overthrow the govern
ent of the United States, he trying to
. in America what Napoleon at that
'ry time was trying to do in Europe
establish a throne for himself. But
. was immoral and corrupt. He was
lie serpent that wound its way into
any a domestic paradise. He shot to
:ath one of the greatest of Americans
Hamilton. The world
und out long before he left it that
e offender speak of was an embodi-
ent of dissoluteness and base ambi-
IN. He was the best illustration that
know of of the fact that man may
I'VE the appearance of courtesy while
thin he is all wrong.
Absalom, Bible character, was a
ecimen of man Of polish outside
d Of rottenness inside. Beautiful.
illiant and with such wealth of hair
at when it was cut in each Deem
r as matter of pride he had it
ighed, and it weighed 200 shekels,
captured all who came near him.
1t, oh, what heart he had-full Of
sachery and unfilial spirit and base
IS!
IN the famous Athenian Alcibiades
story discourses of the same splen-
+ of manner covering utter deprav-
:. Noble pedigree, transoendent abil- !
es, radiant personality, eloquent
1gue, triumphant warrior, victor at q
7mpic games, but a debauchee and I
1mPersonation of all the vices. Alas,
It all up and down history and clear
into our day there are 80 many of \
at Christ called Evolves in sheep's b
thing-"whitewashed sepulchers. b