kind to his parents, considering their wishes, and heeding their advice and counsel, paves the way to future happiness and success. But he who spurns paternal suggestions, speaks and acts disrespectfully, is seldom respected and is always at a disadvantage. When Prince Bismarck was a boy, he was rebuked by his father for speaking of the King as Fritz. "Learn to speak reverently of his Majesty," said the old squire of Varzin, "and you will grow accustomed to think of him with veneration." Bismarck laid the advice to heart and from that day profited by it. The truly polite boy is not only respectful to his parents but also to his sisters and brothers, always returning a pleasant "Thank you" for any kindness received at their hands, and showing as much courtesy to all at home as to those in the home of a neighbor. "A beautiful form," says an American essayist, "is better than a beautiful face, and a beautiful behavior is better than a beautiful form; it gives a higher pleasure than statues or pictures; it is the finest of the fine arts," it gives grace to one's bearing and enables one to look on the bright and beautiful side of things. POLITENESS SHOULD BE ACCORDED ALL. Politeness is a universal debt that each boy owes to every person. The matter of caste, sex, position and intelligence have nothing whatever to do with it. It should be the rule of conduct wherever and in whatever society one may be, to practise politeness. Charles V was renowned for his courtesy. When he passed John Frederick, Elector of Saxony, he took off his hat and bowed to him, though his prisoner, who had been taken by him in battle. The poet Burns was one day walking in the street of Edinburgh when an honest farmer saluted him, which salute he returned, when some one rebuked him. Mr. Burns replied that it was not the greatcoat, the scone bonnet or the saunders boot-hose that he spoke to, but the man that was in them. Daniel Webster was once walking with a friend in Washington when a colored man passing by bowed very low to him. Mr. Webster promptly returned as deep an obeisance. "Do you bow in that way to a darky?" asked his friend. "Would you have me outdone in politeness by a negro?" replied the great states man. WHAT POLITENESS DID. Mr. Winans, of Philadelphia, became independently rich through his courteous manner. One day two strangers called on him. One was a foreigner who had visited some larger establishments in the city, but on their coming to Mr. Winans', a third or fourth rate factory, he took so much pains to show all its parts and workings, and was so patient in his explanations and answers to their inquiries, that within a year he was surprised by an invitation to transfer his labors to St. Petersburg and manufacture locomotives for the Czar of Russia. He went, accumulated a large fortune, and ultimately received from his Russian workshops a hundred thousand dollars a year. Investing his money in real estate he laid the foundation of one of the largest private fortunes in Philadelphia; and all this was the result of civility. It pays to cultivate politeness. To this day the Japanese people revere the memory of General Grant. While visiting the emperor, he was invited to cross the imperial foot bridge near the palace at Tokyo, across which none but the blood royal had ever trod. General Grant accepted the invitation and walked beside the Mikado until they reached the center of the bridge. Then he stopped, profoundly saluted the emperor, and said: "Your majesty, I have come so far to show you that I was not insensible to the honor you would do me, but I cannot violate your traditions. Let us return the way we came." Politeness serves one well. It is keener than sharpened steel. It is more magnetic than loadstone and worth more than jewels. At home or abroad, among young and aged, employers or teachers, inferiors or superiors, this glorious characteristic is a diadem from which sparkles a jewel, which is, as Chesterfield said: "The treatment of others just as you love to be treated yourself." In the words of One greater than he, it is, "Do unto others as ye would they should do unto you." All other things being equal, the boy who adheres to these mottoes is the one who succeeds. It makes him an acceptable companion, wins friendship and creates popularity. "Give a poor boy fine manners and accomplishments," said Voltaire, "and he will become the master of fortunes and palaces, while princes stand upon their threshold to solicit his friendship." Charles II. is described by Macaulay as being "the grandest rascal and most popular man in England." Hume in giving the reason of this says, "He was the best bred man alive." "What thou wilt, Thou must rather enforce it with thy smile, INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER III BY JOSHUA LEVERING Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide, In the strife of Truth with Falsehood, for the good or evil side. -Lowell. T is related of Cyrus, that when asked what was the first thing he learned, he replied, "To tell the truth." Truthfulness is the foundation stone of character. Without it, a life, as it is developed, becomes more and more marred and falls short of its highest opportunity and calling. All qualifications that go to make up noble manhood count for naught, where there is not a persistent adherence to truthfulness. Therefore be true to yourself and the nobler impulses and yearnings of your heart by always speaking the truth, acting the truth, and living the truth. а |