The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-03-12

'and after half hour Of boresome
talk they finally depart. This bank
official always succeeds in parting
with caller in the most friendly and
courteous spirit. When he has lis
tened to an interviewer for a sufi-
cient length of time, he simply
touches button on the floor and
the visitor Is none the wiser. This
is signal to his stenographer, who
sits in near by room, that the time
limit for the Interview has been
reached. AT once the stenographer
picks up short hand note book and
walks into the office. Excuse me
for interrupting" begins the stenog-
yapher but I've come to take that
dictation scheduled for 10 o'clock. ="
Immediately the caller receives a
subconscious ldea-an Inspiration
that he has talked quite long enough.
And pine times out of ten he has the
native good sense to leave promptly.
He decamps with the impression that
the executive treated him very COR
daily and would have been pleased
to listen much longer had not the
stenographer interrupted.
| Yes it is just as DR.. Martin once
said: Fine courtesy is fortune in
itself" 1t was DIR. Martin who
also called attention to the fact that
a dog is highly appreciative of cour-
tesy. Throw him a bone and he
will go after it, take it in his
mouth and turn away but there will
be no movement of his tail. On the
other hand. call him to you, pat him
on the head, and give him the bone
kindly and that same dog will go
away with his tail wagging his graf
itude.
Lord Chesterfield may never have
noticed that peculiar traits in
dogs, but he certainly expressed
a similar sentiment when he
said 1T is better to refuse favor
than grant it clumsily.'
1t is only the man of small caliber
who feels that rudeness, gruffness.
insolenee to those who are beneath
him are marks of supriority. A
man of good breeding is always a
gentleman. always courteous; always
anxious not to give offense and the
better the breeding the more perfect
is his control over speech and ac-
tious.
Lord Chesterfield whose celebra-
ted advice shows him to have been
true mentor of good manners, also
recognizes this great truth, for be
says, a mans own breeding is the
best security against other peoples
ill manners" 1t carries along with
it degree that is respected by the
most petulant
Ill breeding invites and authorizes
the familiarity of the most timid,
rudness and insolence to those who
fortune has made our subordinates,
is one of the surest signs of i'll breed
ing. As Emerson says. life is not
SO short but what there is always
time for courtesy" And if you will
study the lives of the worlds great
est men you will find that there
were few of them who did not re-
cognize this fact.
Washington, Jefferson and Jack
son were as courteous to their slaves
as they were to the nations greatest
statesmen. Lincoln received the
negro with such kindly degree, that
as Fred Douglass once said; he was
the first great man who could meet
him in such a manner as in no way
to remind him of the difference in
color"
The birth of Lincoln had been
humble enough, but he was gentle.
man, with all of a gentleman's mod
esty, courtesy, and genial good will.
Politeness and civilty cost so little
and reward the possesser so munG
Gently that it is surprising so many
persons neglect to cultivate these
traits. A gentlemen is not born.
No matter how rough the diamond
may be when it is taken the earth it
maybe polished until it is ready to
grace the crown of monarch. So
too, are the qualities that go to make
up a gentleman. they are as free as
the air we breath. we have only to
reach out and have them for our own
to enjoy The riches and advantages
they will bring.
The author of this paper desires
to give due credit to the Gregg
Writer" and System" for certain
quotations and facts; and in one IN
stance an entire paragraph.
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