FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. GOOD BEHAVIOR. เก For seldom yet did living creature see That Curtesie and manhood ever disagree. Spencer's Faerie Queene. Manners are what vex, or soothe, corrupt or purify, exalt or debase. barbarize or re- Burke. Extreme youth gives hope to a country; coupled with ceremonious manners, hope Beaconsfield. And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others. St. Matthew. [Fourth Edition.] BRATTLEBORO', VERMONT, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, I. N. CHOYNSKI, Agent for the Pacific Coast. 1881. PREFACE. 31.1922 The following treatise on Good Behavior has been compiled from the best sources, and is drawn up under a provision of the early educational laws of several New England States. It is designed simply as a READER for the reading classes of Public Schools, and for no other purpose; though at times the TEACHER may find it necessary to call the attention of the pupil to some particular passage, or precept, and require him to read it aloud for his especial observance. The rules of Good Behavior are "social laws; and whoever would be just and true must first prescribe laws for himself before he undertakes to impose them upon others. We read that Lycurgus the lawgiver forbade his subjects to have any written laws, because he thought it more conducive to the virtue and happiness of a state that governing principles should become interwoven with the manners and breeding of the people. The habits which education created in the youth of the country, he thought, would have the controlling effect of law. The principles that are instilled in the process of acquiring the art of reading, are the most likely to produce an abiding influence upon the character of men. It was said by Franklin, that with all branches of primary education there should be constantly cultivated that benignity of mind which shows itself in searching for and seizing every opportunity to serve and to oblige. It is the foundation of good breeding; highly useful to the possessor, and most agreeable to all. 0.21 401 (RECAP) It is designed that the instruction to be derived from this book on the all GOOD BEHAVIOR. ARTICLE I. GENERAL PRECEPTS. 1. Man in society requires laws for the control of his actions. But there are many things upon which our happiness depends which are of so delicate a nature that the mere laws of the land cannot reach them. To supply this deficiency, well ascertained rules and principles of social intercourse become necessary; and these rules and principles, which must be determined by good sense and experience, are to govern us in that course of conduct which is variously termed urbanity, civility, politeness, good manners, good breeding, good behavior, etc. 2. By these principles we are required to govern our natural impulses; restraining those which might prove offensive, and directing others so as to render them the most agreeable. Whatever natural peculiarities of character a person may possess, and however charming some of them may appear in all their untrained exuberance, yet, it must be remembered that, they would lose nothing of their value, but, on the contrary, would be heightened in effect by being exhibited in accordance with the rules |