The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-02
y GU never know how agreeable you
can be until you try, and I wish
to conclude this subject of agree
ability by advancing this strong

ability ny advancing l1lAS Ell o116
argument that it is your duty and
your business to try. My: position not
only now Is, but always has been and
always shall be, that charm Is mere
matter of good manner; that good man
ner Is art, and that this art, in common
with all others. is to be acquired by SIM
pie force OF diligent study.
During the years Of midaeval darkness
in Europe nobody was to blame for down.
right illitsraoy, because books were few
and schools were far between, but in this
day and generation We rightly feel only
sovereign contempt for the men who can
not read or the women who cannot write.
III they come to us, deploring their lack
Of information, we disgustedly advise
them to go to school; or, If they are too
big for school, we suggest that they buy
good books full OF learned lore and edu-
cate themselves. We no longer live In
century where knowledge Is considered
a strange and mysterious power, proceed
Ing partly from the evil one himself, and
we are fast getting to- view the acquisi-
ton Of social charm In quite the same
light.
Common Sense View.
Just make UP your mind that your man
,ners are bad, indeed. very bad; just come
to realizing sense that you don't seem
to attract and hold people as you should
arrive fairly and squarely at the point
where you can see, with quite painful
idistinctness, that for want Of charm you
are failing to make the successful career
you planned out for yourself and then sit
right down and take a common sense
view OF the situation. Waste no time
losing your confidence or courage, but
look the situation directly in the eye and
sayi II Will study this art of agreeabil1ty
just as would study electricity, or Ian
guage, or dressmaking.
7 cant get on any longer without It
and I find that there are first and fore
most excellent text books upon the sub.
ject to be studied, the rules and informa-
tion In which will be to me Of inestima-
BILE value"
Having got this far along the right ant
royal road to the attainment of your de-
sire, don't be either ashamed or afrait
TO go straight out and purchase some ex
cellent volumes on correct social usage
You can no moro succeed without 1t thar
you can learn to discourse sweet music
without notes. or prepare detachable dshe!
without the assistance Of an authorized
volume Of approved recipes
Select carefully compiled and perfectl,
upto-date works on the best and mos
modern etiquette by well-known authors
and do not be in the least deferred from
your study Of rules because you may b.
passing over first youth or because 20,
do not live in a. fashioable community
where there appear to be large opportun
tiles for practictng what you learn.
There Is literally no time Of life whel
1t Is too late to study and adopt the prin
ciples Of exquisite poiteness. I am prou
to count in my list Of friends a man VIII
made his money in Colorado gold, an
a large part Of that gold he dug an
blasted from the rock with his own BIZ
strong hands. At As he had fortune
and he gave up the mines, came east
bought house In New York, and bega
to fit himself for the enjoyment of
aocial life.
Il earned my money by some har
l1cks," he bravely said, land now ar
going to earn my social position by som
more hard licks."
He was good as his word. The har
ticks he put in while earning and winnin
the society Of cultured men and wome
were devoted to the study of etiquette an
q gradual application Of all its best rules
To-day he sits ut the head Of his ow
table. whereat he entertains the best /