Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-09-23
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BEACON LIGHTS Of HISTORY

BEAcoN LIGHTS Of HlsroR
Examples of Human Virtue That Have
MADE the WorIG Better.
lUnder this heading from time te
time will be published a series OF au'
thenticated extracts dealing with ms.
loricaI examples or the good ana pao
In human nature, mostly good; but al
turnisning an admirable cnart OF con-
quot 10 be emuiated OF avoidedl:
PoLITENESS.
Sentiments.
There are many accomplishments
which, though they are comparatively
trivial, and may be acquired by small
abilities, are yet OF great importance
in our common intercourse with men
OF this kind is that general courtesy
which is called politeness. have
heard It defined IAN artificial good
nature" but may we not more truly
say that good nature is a natural
politeness? Art will make but al
imperfect work, II the assistance OF
nature is wanting.
Politeness Is that continual at
tention which humanity inspires In u.s.
both to please others and to avoid
giving them offence. l'he surly plain
dealer exclaims loudly against this
virtue, and prefers his own shocking
bluntness and gothic freedom. The
courtier and the fawning fiatterer, on
the contrary, substitute in its place
insipid compliments, cringings and q
jargon of unmeaning sentences. The
one blames politeness, because he
takes 1t for a vice; and the other is
the occasion of this, because that
which he practices is really so.
The conversation Of most men Is
disagreeable, not so much for want OF
wit and language. as Of good breed
ing.
II you resolve to please, never speak
to crafty any particular vanity or
passion Of your own. but always with
a design either to divert or inform
the company. A man who only aims
at one of these is always easy In his
discourse. He is never out Of humor
at being interrupted, because he con-
siders that those who hear him are
the best judges whether what he was
saying could either divert or inform
them.
He that is peremptory In his own
story may meet with another as per-
emptory In the consideration Of 1t, and
then the two Sir Positives may have
q skirmish.
It is an objectionable incivility to
interrupt q person In telling a story;
1t Is much better to let him fail In
some circumstance Of the history than
to rectify him, If he asks not our ad-
vice, or to signify we knew long be-
fore the news he would acquaint US
with. To what purpose is 1t to re-
fuse man the pleasure Of believing
he informed US Of something we were
ignorant Of before?
No injury makes so deep an I'M
preston on ones memory as that
which is done by cutting mali
cious jest; for let 1t BE- eevr so good,
vet 1t Is always extremely bad, when
it occasions enmity. Raillery, there
fore, is no longer agreeable than
while company is pleased with 1t, and
should never be used but with regard
to failings Of so little consequence that
the person concerned may be merry on
the subject himself. It is a pleasant
but decent mixture Of praise and re-
proach. .. ....s-..
They who have true relish for
conversation enjoy themselves In Q
Communication of each others excel
lencies and not in a triumph over
their imperfections.
The wit of conversation consists
more in finding it in others than In
showing a great deal yourself. He
who goes out Of your company pleas
ed with his own facetiousness and in
genuity, will the sooner come into 1t
again. Most men had rather please
than admire you, and seek less to be
instructed and diverted, than ap-
proved and applauded; and it is GER
tainly the most delicate sort Of pleas
ure to please another.
We should talk very little Of our
selves or any particular science for
which we are remarkably famous.
A man may equally affront the
the talk, or observing a contemptu-
Gus silence.
Women are frightened at the name
Of argument and are sooner convinced
by happy turn or witty expression
than by demonstration.
Whenever you command, add your
reasons for doing so; it is this which
distinguishes the appreciation Of a
man Of sense from the flattery OF
sycophants and the admiration OF
fools.
Nothing is more silly than the
pleasure some people take. in what
they call speaking their minds" A
man Of this mark will say a rude
thing for the mere pleasure of saying
it. when an opposite behavior, full as
innocent, might have preserved his
friend or made his fortune.
Examples,
Petrarch relates that his admirable
friend and contemporary, Dante ALI
ghieri, one Of the most exalted and or
iginal geniuses that ever appeared, be-
ing banished from his country and hav.
ing retired to the court of a prince which
was then the sanctuary Of the unfor-
tunate, was held in great esteem; bu,
became daily less acceptable to his
patron by the severity Of his man
ners and the freedom Of his speech
There were at the same court many