d manners as a kind of affectation. They
claim admiration for plain, solid, square, rugged characters. They
might as well say that they prefer square, plain, unornamented houses
made from square blocks of stone. St. Peter's is none the less strong
and solid because of its elegant columns and the magnificent sweep of
its arches, its carved and fretted marbles of matchless hues.

Our manners, like our characters, are always under inspection. Every
time we go into society we must step on the scales of each person's
opinion, and the loss or gain from our last weight is carefully noted.
Each mentally asks, "Is this person going up or down? Through how many
grades has he passed?" For example, young Brown enters a drawing-room.
All present weigh him in their judgment and silently say, "This young
man is gaining; he is more careful, thoughtful, polite, considerate,
straightforward, industrious." Besides him stands young Jones. It is
evident that he is losing ground rapidly. He is careless, indifferent,
rough, does not look you in the eye, is mean, stingy, snaps at the
servants, yet is over-polite to strangers.

And so we go through life, tagged with these invisible labels by all
who know us. I sometimes think it would be a great advantage if one
could read these ratings of his associates. We cannot long deceive the
world, for that other self, who ever stands in the shadow of ourselves
holding the scales of justice, that telltale in the soul, rushes to the
eye or into the manner and betrays us.

But manners, while they are the garb of the gentleman, do not
constitute or finally determine his character. Mere politeness can
never be a substitute for moral excellence, any more than the bark can
take the place of the heart of the oak. It may well indicate the kind
of wood below, but not always whether it be sound or decayed.
Etiquette is but a substitute for good manners and is often but their
mere counterfeit.

Sincerity is the highest quality of good manners.

The following recipe is recommended to those who wish to acquire
genuine good manners:--

Of Unselfishness, three drachms;

Of the tincture of Good Cheer, one ounce;

Of Essence of Heart's-Ease, three drachms;

Of the Extract of the Rose of Sharon, four ounces;

Of the Oil of Charity, three drachms, and no scruples;

Of the Infusion of Common Sense and Tact, one ounce;

Of the Spirit of Love, two ounces.

The Mixture to be taken whenever there is