The frank and cordial man sets those about
him at their ease. He warms and elevates them by his presence,
and wins all hearts. Thus manner, in its highest form, like
character, becomes a genuine motive power.
"The love and admiration," says Canon Kingsley, "which that truly
brave and loving man, Sir Sydney Smith, won from every one, rich
and poor, with whom he came in contact seems to have arisen from
the one fact, that without, perhaps, having any such conscious
intention, he treated rich and poor, his own servants and the
noblemen his guests, alike, and alike courteously, considerately,
cheerfully, affectionately--so leaving a blessing, and reaping a
blessing, wherever he went."
Good manners are usually supposed to be the peculiar
characteristic of persons gently born and bred, and of persons
moving in the higher rather than in the lower spheres of society.
And this is no doubt to a great extent true, because of the more
favourable surroundings of the former in early life. But there is
no reason why the poorest classes should not practise good manners
towards each other as well as the richest.
Men who toil with their hands, equally with those who do not, may
respect themselves and respect one another; and it is by their
demeanour to each other--in other words, by their manners--that
self-respect as well as mutual respect are indicated. There is
scarcely a moment in their lives, the enjoyment of which might not
be enhanced by kindliness of this sort--in the workshop, in the
street, or at home.
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