e way. According as we choose
the one or the other, our manners may be said to be good or bad.

Good manners are the result of two things.--(_a_) Self-respect and
(_b_) consideration for the feelings of others. The man who respects
himself will be careful to say or do nothing that may seem to others
degrading or unworthy. The man who has consideration for the feelings
of others will be equally careful to do or say nothing that may give
them pain, or be offensive to them.

Good manners beautify character.--It was a celebrated saying of an old
bishop, William of Wykeham, "Manners maketh man." This is, however,
only partially true. Manners do not make a man any more than good
clothes make a man, but if he _is made_ they greatly improve him. Some
have been truly excellent who have had an uncouth and unpolished
address, but that was rather to their disadvantage than otherwise.
"Rough diamonds" are always precious, but a diamond that is cut and
polished, while it retains its value, is much more beautiful. Civility
of speech, politeness of address, courtesy in our dealings with others,
are qualities that adorn a man, whilst rudeness, incivility, roughness
in behavior, detract greatly from his value, and injure his usefulness.
Tennyson's words are true:

Manners are not idle, but the fruit
Of noble nature and of loyal mind.

Good manners tend greatly to success in life.--Coarseness and gruffness
lock doors, gentleness and refinement open them, while the rude,
boorish man is shunned by all. Take the case of a speaker addressing a
public meeting. What he says is weighty and important. His arguments
are powerful and well marshalled, but his speech is uncouth and
disagreeable. He says things that are coarse and vulgar. His bad
manner vastly takes away from the impression which he desires to make,
and which, if his manner had been different, he would have made.
Again, two young men serve in a place of business. The one is gentle
in his demeanor, meets his customers with a pleasant smile, is always
polite. The other is rough in his deportment, apparently does not care
whether those he deals with are pleased or not. The one is a favorite
with everybody; the other, who may be equally worthy as far as
character is concerned, is disliked.

Good manners often disarm opposition.--People may have a prejudice
against ourselves personally, or against the cause we represent. It is
wonderful, however, how much may be