Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-01-17

sions Of the chief man OF the Island.
whose name was Pubiius. who receiv-
ed us and lodged rs 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" Honor ali men,"
What a mighty means OF usefulness
Is courtesyi The lack Of It brings TO
many a dead failure. while before
those who possess IL 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 mind full of thoughtfui-
ness for others and heart I'm SYM
pathy with the conditions of others. II
those conditions be prosperous. a glad
ness for the success. or II the condi-
tons be depressing. a 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-nine out OF a
hundred there Is n pathetic side, TAX.
Ing or. deficit. an anxiety. trouble.
BY a genial look. by a Kind word, by
helpful action. we may lift little
of the burden and partly clear the way
for the stumbling foot. oh. what
glorious art ii Is TO say the right word
In the right way at the right time.
How reprehensible the behavior OF
those who pride themselves on the op
posite quality and have genius for
saying disagreeable things. using sar.
ND FOR la.x II
poses, but to sting and humiliate aud
hurtl "Didn't take him DOWN.
Didn't make him wince?" "Didn't
give 1t to himr' 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. Rehoboam lost the
ten tribes through his discourtesy
More thoughtfulness for others-let us
all cultivate IL. That spirit was well
illustrated when the Birkenhead was
wrecked on the rocks and all knew
she must go down. Many soldiers
were on board. The drum sounded,
and the soldiers fell into line. The
the boats. Then the commander of
the ship said. let all those who can
swim strike out Tor the boats" NO."
highlanders; ''if you do that, you will
sink the boats In which the women
and children are" The brave men
kept to their post, and just as the ship
was about to make its last plunge
they fired salute to those in the
boats. What sinking of self in thought
fulness for othersi
Many years ago two men entered the
largest locomotive workshops in Phil
adelphie. They were treated in a very
Indifferent way and were allowed to
depart without any show of courtesy.
They went into other shops, and no
especial attention was given them.
After awhile the two men entered a
smaller shop. and the overseer took
great pains in showing them every
thing and how they wrought and on
what plan the shops were run. The
two visitors were agents of the car
Of Russia, and those shops were trans
ferred TO st. Petersburg, and that po-
lite man that bestowed such attention
was called to build the locomotives for
all the railroads OF Russia and had for
tune after fortune roll in upon him.
| Courtesy is mighty force in temporal
things as well as I'm spiritual things.
Let us start each year, each month.
each day, with the question, What can
l do to make others happy On our
way to office or store or shop or rail
m LOT l.a oil 60 q.
seconded opportunities.
What the World Needs.
The time must come when the world
| will acknowledge international cour-
tesy. Now courtesy between nations
is chiefly made OF rhetorical greeting.
but as soon as there is n difference OF
interest their ministers plenIpotentiary
are called home. and the guns OF the
forts are put In position. and the army
and navy get ready Why not cour-
tesy between nations that will defer
to each other and surrender q little
rather than have prolonged acrimony.
ending In great slaughter? Room for
all nations OF the earth and all styles
OF government. What the world wants
Is less armament and more courtesy.
less OF the spirit OF destruction and
more OF the spirit OF amity. This CEN
fury has opened with too many armies
in the field and too many men of-war
on the ocean. Before the century closes
may the last cavalry horse be hitched
to the plow and the last warship be-
come merchantmen.
There is nothing worthy In the
thought that the earth will get too
crowded with population IL vast multi
tudes are not destroyed by war. When
our old world Is full OF inhabitants,
1t will have fulfilled its mission. and it
will be put aside like an old ship turned
into navy yard and dismantled and
the worlds Inhabitants transferred to
some other constellation. The angels
In the song celebrated this coming in
ternational courtesy when in the Beth
lehem starlight they chanted. "Good
will to men,"
Divine Grace In the Heart.
II others lack courtesy, that is no
reason why you should lack it. Re
spond to rudeness by utmost afrabili-
ty. Because some one else is boor
Is no reason why you should be boor.
| But how few show urbanity when bad
ly treated! Human nature says, IAN
eye for an eye, tooth for tooth. re-
tort for retort, SANDER for Islander,
/ maltreatment for maltreatment." But
there have been those you and have
known who amid assault and carica-
ture and injustice have maintained the
loneliness of blossom week In spring
time. Nothing but divine grace in the
heart can keep such equilibrium. That
Is not human nature until it Is trans
formed by supernal influences. TO put
1t on the lowest ground you cannot af-
ford to be revengefui and malignant.
Hatred and high indignation are stages
Of unhealth- They enlarge the spleen;
they weaken the nerves; they attack
the brain. Rage In a man is one form
of apoplexy. Every time you get mad
you damage your body and mind and
soul, and you have not such a surplus
Of vigor and energy that you can af-
ford to sacrifice them.