Good Manners A Duty

Men often speak of goodmanneisas an accomplishment. I sj)eak of thom as a duty. What, then, are good nianners? Such manners as the usages of society have recognized as being agreeable to men. Such manners as take away rudeness and remit to the brute creation all coarseness. There are a great many who feel that good manners are effeminate. They have a feeling that rude bluntness is a great deal more manly than good manners. It is a great deal more beastly. But when men are crowded into communities, the art of living together is no 8mall art. How to diminibh friction ; how to promote ease of intercourse ; how to make every part of a man's life contribute to the welfare and satisfaction of those around him ; how to keep down offensive pride ; how to banish tho raspings of selfishness froni the intercourse of men ; how to move among men inspired by varioua and conflictive motives, and yet not have collisions - this is the function of eood manners. It is not effeiniuate to be refined. And in this land no man sbould plead inability. There may be a peasantry in other countries ; there may be a class in foreign lands who havo no opportunities ; there may be those whose toil is so continuous, whoso opportunities for knowing what constitutes good manners aro so few and whose ignorance is so gross that they are excusable; but this is not the case with any within the sound of my voiee. I affirni for every American oitizen the right to be not simply a man, but a goodniannered man. Not only is the violation of good manners inexcusable on ordinary grounds, but it is sinful. When, therefore, parents and guardians and teachors would inspire the young with a desiro for the mannerg of good society, it is not to be thought that they are accomplishments which may be accepted or rejected. Every man is bound to observe the laws of politeness. It is the expression of good-will and kindncss. It promotes both beauty in the man who possessea it, and happiness in those who are about him. It is a religious duty, and should be part of religious training,