ESSAY VIII. ON GENTLENESS OF DEMEANOUR. "Le diamant lui-même n'est qu'une pierre, tant qu'il reste brut. C'est le poli qu'il reçoit, qui lui donne tout son lustre; et qui prouve sa valeur réelle.” DE TOUY. As firmness of conduct is necessary to make a man respectable, so gentleness of demeanour is no less essential to render him amiable; and the more he possesses of the former quality, the more sedulously should he cultivate the latter. It is evident from the abrupt speech and unpolished behaviour of many persons of real worth, that they consider suavity of manners derogatory, or at least unnecessary, to real merit: but there cannot be a greater mistake. "La politesse est aux actions, ce que la grâce est à la beauté." As easily might a man's personal beauty suffer from his being well dressed, as his mental superiority diminish by being viewed through the medium of a mild and polished behaviour, which, on the contrary, encourages others to search for and discover those more valuable and important endowments, which might long remain concealed under a repulsive and rough exterior. It is true that benevolence, integrity, and talent, are usually brought to light by their own excellence, and appreciated as they deserve. But suppose an amateur in painting should find a valuable original buried in gloom and covered with dust; he is immediately aware of its sterling value; but, in order to ensure the attention it deserves, does he not clean it, frame it, and place it in the most advantageous light? and shall we say, that because the picture remains unaltered, his pains to improve it in value have been ill bestowed? Surely not. Why then should any one grudge to cultivate that gentleness which is, in like manner, calculated to enhance and set off his real merit, and to predispose the minds of men to a ready and just appreciation of his character? An affected softness of speech or manner, like every other species of affectation, is to be avoided: but this is widely different from the habitual gentleness which flows from natural benevolence and a constant desire to promote the happiness of all around us. This last is genuine politeness, and manifests itself equally at all seasons and in all societies, from the drawing-room to the cottage, in the crowded assembly and the quiet family circle, though it is chiefly in the latter, amidst our familiar friends and constant associates, that its soothing and cheering influence is felt. How often has the social meeting of numbers been clouded by the indolent taciturnity or abrupt sententiousness of one, who, with every good feeling in his heart, thinks it unnecessary to take the trouble of attending to his deportment! What a sudden chill does the affectionate heart often experience, when its effusions are met, however unintentionally, with dryness or inattention, and how painfully is the cheerful spirit damped by an abrupt word or a cold answer! It is only by such an early attention to the behaviour, as may render gentleness not an occasional effort but a habit of the mind, that any person can hope to become thoroughly amiable. If his inward excellence and mental powers be great, a prepossessing demeanour invites us, as a fine avenue to a still finer termination: if they be small, it is at least an attractive and flowery way, on which we may loiter agreeably for a while, though it lead to nothing. ESSAY IX. ON CHARITY. "Soft peace she brings wherever she arrives, PRIOR. THE practice of charity is so earnestly enjoined upon all those who call themselves Christians, that it behoves us to make ourselves quite sure whether we really and fully understand the meaning of the word. How many will smile contemptuously at such a doubt, and answer it in the comfortable spirit of self-complacency! "Thank Heaven," exclaims Lorenzo, "I at least may be supposed to understand that which I so extensively practise. Every public subscription bears witness to the large sums which I bestow out of my abundance to supply the wants of the poor, nor are private donations wanting to swell the amount of my charities." All this is true, but Lorenzo's heart burns with malice towards Mercutio, and he is working out his ruin by the expensive process of a tedious law-suit, which is but sport to the one, and destruction to the other. Lorenzo, therefore, is not charitable. Who can question the charity of Dalinda? Her slender pittance is less her own property than that of the poor; nor is her benevolence confined to donations only; her presence comforts the afflicted, her medicines relieve the sick, her prayers support the dying: how near perfection is her charity! But, alas! she has sought only for one interpretation of the word. No one listens so eagerly to the tale of scandal, or retails it with more alacrity. You cannot inflict upon her greater annoyance than by giving a less mischievous version of her exaggerated reports, or putting a more liberal construction upon such as chance to be correct. Dalinda is yet far from being charitable. There are many people who would not, for the world, utter that which they know to be false, and who yet will relate, without scruple, that which they do not know to be true, however injurious its tendency. There are many whose lips you may seal by an injunction of secrecy, who, without that |