Some years ago the party of Japanese Commissioners of Education to the Centennial Exhibition visited Hampton Institute, part of their mission to this country being for the purpose of studying our various systems of education. The party, consisting of a prince and the gentlemen of his suite, were gladly enter cained for the several days of their stay by the officers of the School. They were all gentlemen of very high standing and great intelligence, and their visit was a source of pleasure to all who met them. On their depar- ture, according to a graceful custom of their country, the prince left a beautiful present of Japanese work at each house where he had been a guest. A month or more after he left, by the earliest possible mail, came letters courteously an- nouncing the party's safe arrival in Japan, and renewing their acknowledgments of the hospitality they had received. As I have said, our Ee publican Society does not de- mand such excessive formality as is necessary to the despotic etiquette of those Eastern nations, but in some respects we can learn from them, and I have used the above anecdote to show you how broad a meaning " courtesy" may have. It is almost always rude and unkind to ridicule people whether they are friends or strangers, and as politeness means not only external forms, but also involves considera- ON HABITS AND MANNERS. 5 I tion for the teelings of those with whom you come in con- tact, you must remember that it is often jii3t as ill-bred to say or do anything which you know is likely to hurt a per- son's feelings, as it would be to shut a door in any one's face or offer any similar rudeness. If by accident you injure anything belonging to an- other person, you must make proper apology, and if in any- way you can repair your fault, must do so. Anything which you may have borrowed should be returned promptly at the expiration of the time for which it was lent. If it has been in any way damaged, you must replace it, or if that is not possible, must make good its money value to its owner. You must never make use of the smallest article without asking leave of its owner, and even in so trifling a matter as taking up a book or newspaper belonging to any one else, must be careful that you are not, in so doing, an- noying the owner; in short, you must always and every- where be strictly scrupulous in regard to other people's property. In making the acquaintance of young men, and in your association with them, I have already told you how import- ant it is that you should be careful, molest, pure in word and deed, so that you may command their respect, and never have the misfortune to find your name in the mouths of gos- sips or scandal- mongers, or even worse, to know that it is 52 ON HABITS AND MANNERS. bandied about among the very young men whose good opin- ion you are doubtless trying to win.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Some years ago the party of Japanese Commissioners of Education to the Centennial Exhibition visited Hampton Institute, part of their mission to this country being for the purpose of studying our various systems of education. The party, consisting of a prince and the gentlemen of his suite, were gladly entertained for the several days of their stay by the officers of the School. They were all gentlemen of very high standing and great intelligence, and their visit was a source of pleasure to all who met them. On their departure, according to a graceful custom of their country, the prince left a beautiful present of Japanese work at each house where he had been a guest. A month or more after he left, by the earliest possible mail, came letters courteously announcing the party's safe arrival in Japan, and renewing their acknowledgments of the hospitality they had received. As I have said, our Republican Society does not demand such excessive formality as is necessary to the despotic etiquette of those Eastern nations, but in some respects we can learn from them, and I have used the above anecdote to show you how broad a meaning " courtesy" may have. It is almost always rude and unkind to ridicule people whether they are friends or strangers, and as politeness means not only external forms, but also involves considera- tion for the feelings of those with whom you come in contact, you must remember that it is often just as ill-bred to say or do anything which you know is likely to hurt a person's feelings, as it would be to shut a door in any one's face or offer any similar rudeness. If by accident you injure anything belonging to another person, you must make proper apology, and if in anyway you can repair your fault, must do so. Anything which you may have borrowed should be returned promptly at the expiration of the time for which it was lent. If it has been in any way damaged, you must replace it, or if that is not possible, must make good its money value to its owner. You must never make use of the smallest article without asking leave of its owner, and even in so trifling a matter as taking up a book or newspaper belonging to any one else, must be careful that you are not, in so doing, annoying the owner; in short, you must always and everywhere be strictly scrupulous in regard to other people's property. In making the acquaintance of young men, and in your association with them, I have already told you how important it is that you should be careful, molest, pure in word and deed, so that you may command their respect, and never have the misfortune to find your name in the mouths of gossips or scandal- mongers, or even worse, to know that it is bandied about among the very young men whose good opinion you are doubtless trying to win.

On habits and manners