Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-18
Courtesy-


OF the heart makes no distinctions. 1t
never lapses into unkndness and rudeness
and II never is servile. 1t is attribute
particularly graceful and charming in
women. and they who possess 1t add large
ly to the growing beauty and sweetness
and good OF the world.
There are two distinct kinds of courtesy;
one is of the heart, the other Is Of the head
One is the expression of genuine kindness
and good will. while the other merely is the
result of good breeding. One says, Il beg
your pardon because 1t would be bad form
not to do so; the other says It from the
heart.
Some one said that polteness Is artificial
good nature. Perhaps 1t was clearer think
ing which described good nature as natural
polteness.
Courtesy resulting from mere good breed
Ing says and does Pheasant and polite things
in an exquisite manner with which the heart
has nothing to do. Joab was courteous
when. according to the approved custom
of the time. he took Amasa by the beard to
kiss him, saying: Art thou in health my
BROTHER" Nevertheless. with his free hand
did Joab grasp his sword and smite Amasa
under the fifth rib to his death.
This cold-blooded courtesy survives to the
present day, and so well is it affected that
sometimes it passes for courtesy of the
try and prove true courtesy as good.
There Is
A resignation in the spirit of the oriental
religions and PHILOSOPHERS which sometimes
has been sorry or amusing to the enterpris-
ing westerners, who believe no lot so bad
but that they can better it, and who think
there is way wherever there is a will.
We interpret the spirit of resignation and
contentment as sgnifying lethargy, apathy,
Indifference. lack of enterprise want of
vim, energy; we think people are resigned
to Ill fortune because they are too indolent
to effect the needed improvements. 'Kis-
met, lit is fate" is weakling's cry, a
towards cry. Maybe SO. Yet not always
so. There is another side to the shield.
We remember, in the golden verses of
Pythagoras. the counsel to " support with
patience thy lot, be it what 1t may, and
never repine at it. But endeavor what thou
canst to remedy it, Resignation does not
necessarily imply apathy. but it does mean
that there is no repining. no fretting at
fate, no worry. as moderns have it.
Things are accepted as the inevitable re-
suits of fcauses that have been set I'D some
where in the past. either some immediate
past that We remember, that we can Law
mote bygone day which was none the less
fact in our existence because il now Is for
gotten. The idea of reincarnation which
pervades all oriental philosophy, and which
saturated early Christianity accounts for
all fortunes, either good bad, as the
natural issue of results in the ceaseless
chain of cause and effect which links mo-
ment with moment. day with day. year
with year. life with life.
What happens, then. must happen. We
cannot help II. 1t Is the fate formed Of the
eternal law of causation. Worry is useless
1t does not better things. 1t only exhausts
valuable energies that could be applied USE
fully to mend matters.
For what we can do. and wisely. is to set
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advantage both now and hereafter. Since
the world does move by law, since there is
cause and effect and not chance governing
the universe, We confidently may build for
tomorrow. We may be true architects of
our fates. Hence the wisdom, the ration
ality of the injunction not to waste precious
powers in repining at our lot. but to en-
deavor what we can to remedy it.
Our Lives
Are like Kaleidoscope. And those who
change their mental outlook the quickest
and oftenest. thinking out ahead the new
and constantly changing conditions they
wish to create. as a man would plan his
next days journey. enjoy the greatest va
riety of experiences. and so live the fulles,
lives.
To become deeply sensible of the transi-
tory nature of human life and human ex.
perience is a good aim. and to keep our
selves in such state OF mind is a wise
rule TO follow. rule which conduces much
to our peace and present comfort.
Any conditions which we know are not
permanent are easier to bear. 1T will
pass" We say. If we are sensible we never
trouble ourselves over what cannot last
Instead we fix our minds on the pleasanteI
phase of life to come. And this rule OF
hving mentally in the agreeable not only
keeps the mind equable and agreeable and
serene in both joy and sorrow. but really
causes US to feel less any present disturb
ances. We do not allow ourselves to be
swayed by each passing occurrence.
Determination can create better Circum-