Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1887 edition. Excerpt: ... "Love, like the flower that courts the sun's kind ray, Will flourish only in the smiles of day; Distrust's cold air the generous plant annoys, And one chill blight of dire contempt destroys. Oh shun, my friends, avoid that dangerous coast, Where peace expires, and fair affection's lost, By wit, by grief, by anger urged, forbear The speech contemptuous and the scornful air."--Percy. "There is one article absolutely necessary--to be ever beloved, one must be ever agreeable."--Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. j DEGREEST is a mistake to suppose that the forms of courtesy can be safely dispensed with in the family circle. With the disappearance of the forms the reality will too often disappear. On the other hand, as outward actions, and even the changes of countenance and expression of the features have a tendency to call forth corresponding emotions, attention to the forms of civility will very often be successful in producing the reality. If you force yourself to smile and look cheerful, bright thoughts are sure to come into your mind, though you may have been, before the experiment, considerably out of humour. The next time you happen to be cross, and the members of your family seem natural enemies instead of natural friends, try this remedy. Smile and say something pretty, even though you may shrink from the effort as you would from a dentist's chair. You will have your reward, for almost immediately a bright streak of happiness will break through the clouds of your mind. "Politeness," said Joubert, "is one development of virtue;" and in reply to those who would contend that it is necessary for society only, not for home, he remarked that we should wear our velvet indoors--that is, give those nearest to us the chief benefit of gentleness. How many put...