A WORD TO BOYS | AdventAI

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 25, 1860

A WORD TO BOYS.

Be Polite.—Study the graces, not the graces of the dancing master, of bowing and scraping; not the foppish infidel etiquette of a Chesterfield, but benevolence, the graces of the heart, whatever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report. The true secret of politeness is, to please, to make happy—flowing from goodness of heart—a fountain of love. As you leave the family circle for retirement, say good night—when you rise, good morning. Do you meet or pass a friend in the street, bow gracefully, with the usual salutations. Wear a hinge on your neck and keep it well oiled—and, above all, study Solomon and the epistles of Paul.

Be Civil.—When the rich Quaker was asked the secret of his success in life, he answered, "Civility, friend, civility." Some people are uncivil, sour, sullen, morose, crabbed, crusty, haughty, really clownish and imprudent. Run for your life! "Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit! There is more hope of a fool than of him!"

Be Kind to Everybody.—There is nothing like kindness. It sweetens everything. A single look of love, a smile, a grasp of the hand, has gained more friends than both wealth and learning. "Charity suffereth long and is kind." See 1 Cor. xiii.