Page:TheYoungMansGuide.djvu/444

 that which, only through faith, is raised from mere social to a Christian virtue.

Just because genuine politeness originates from charity, and promotes charity, it should be no stranger to you, young man, no matter what vocation or state of life you may embrace. Learn it for God's sake by self -observation, and the observation of educated and refined persons.

You will avoid many faults against charity if you remove what is contrary to good manners. Yes, good manners will even be to your own gain, because through their influence you will learn to treat yourself with a kind of veneration.

Consider it not below your dignity to pay attention to courtesy even in minor things. Dress, carriage, looks, gestures, gait, speech nothing is to be overlooked.

Even Holy Writ - that most solemn and sacred of all monitors - disdains not to lay down rules of conduct, which are always rules of wisdom, as well as rules of charity. Though these, in general, refer to the whole outward man, they, in particular, regard the most abused of all our instruments of sense, the tongue.

A man is known by his look, and a wise man, when you meet him, is known by his countenance. For " the attire of the body, and the laughter of the teeth, and the gait of the man, show what he is" (Ecclus. xix. 27).

" The heart of fools is in their mouth, and the mouth of wise men is in their heart " (Ecclus. xxi. 29).

"A wise man will hold his peace till he see opportunity, but a babbler and a fool will regard no time " (Ecclus. xx. 7).