Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1890 — GEORGE WASHINGTON. [ARTICLE]

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

His Fifty-Seven Knlea of Behavior. Through the instruction of his mother, Washington early became interested in matters classed under the general name of etiquette. His father was a gentleman of courtly manners, and his half-brothers. Augustine and Lawrence, had homes in which all the observances of polite society were kept. Washington, too, was often a visitor at the home of Hon. William Fairfax, the manager of the American estates of Lord Fairfax. after whom Fairfax County, Virginia, was named. Young Washington attended such schools as the neighborhood afforded, but entered early upon business for himself. He began land surveying at sixteen; at nineteen he was a Major, and at twenty-three a Colonel upon the staff of Gen. Braddock, and did much to prevent that officer’s defeat from becoming a slaughter of every one connected with the command. Before he was thirteen years of age Washington had compiled, and carefully formulated his observations and teachings into a code of rules, fifty-seven in number, which influenced all his future conduct in his large intercourse with his fellow-men. "Washington Irving says that “a better manual of conduct could not be put into the hands of a youth.” Many lads of this generation will, no doubt, be glad to place these rules in their scrap books for study and reference. They are as follows: 1. Every action in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those’ present. 2. Turn not your back to others, especially in speaking ; jog not the desk or table on which another reads or writes : lean not on any one. , 3. In the presence of others, sing not to yoorself with a humming noise, nor drum with your fingers or feet.

4. Sleep not when others speak ; stt not when others stand; speak not when you should hold your peace : walk not when others stop. 5. Be no flatterer; neither play with any one that delights not to be played with. 6. Bead no letters, books, or papers in company ; but, when there is a necessity for doing it, you must aßk leave. Come not near the books or writings of any one so as to read them, unless desired, nor give your opinion of them unasked; also, look not nigh when another is writing a letter. 7. Let your countenai:ca be pleasant, hut in serious matters somewhat crave. S. Show not yourself glad at the misfortune of another, though he w'ere your enemy. 9. When you meet with one of greater quality than yourself, stop and retire, especially if it be at a door or any strait place, to give’ way for him to pass. 10. They that are in dignity, or in office, have in all places, precedency; but, whilst they are young, they ought to respect those that are their equals in birth, or other qualities, though they have no other public charge. 11. It is goodimannerg to prefer them to whom we speak before ourselves, especially if they be above us, with whom in no sort we ought to begin. 12. Let your discourse with men of business be short and comprehensive. 13. In visiting the sick do not presently play the physician, if you be not knowing therein. 14. In writing or Bpeaking give to every perBonhisdue title, according to his degree and the custom of the place. 15. Strive not with your superiors in argument, but always submit your judgment to others with modesty. 16. Undertake not to teach your equal in the art himself professes ;it savors of arrogance. * 17. When a man does all he can, though it succeeds not well, blame not him that did it. 18. Being to advise or reprehend any one. consider whether it ought to be in public or private, presently or at some other time, in what terms to do it; and, in reproving, show no signs of choler, but do it with sweetness and mildness. 19. Take all admonitions thankfully, in what time or place so ever given ; but afterward, not being culpable, take a time or place convenient to let him know it that gave them. 20. Mock not nor jest at auy hing of importance ; break no jests that are sharp-biting, and, if vou deliver anything witty and pleasant, abstain from laughing thereat yourself. 21. Wherein you reprove another, be unblamable yourself, for example is more prevalent than preceptß. 22. Use no reproachful language against any one ; neither curse nor revile. 23. Be not hasty to believe flying reports to the disparagement ot any. 24. In your apparel, be modest, and endeavor to accommodate nature rather than to procure admiration; keep to the fashion of your equals, such as are civil and orderly, with respect to times and places. 25. Play not the peacock, lookiDg everywhere about you to see if you be well decked—if your shoos fit well, if your stockings set neatly, and clothos handsomely. 2ti. Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you esteem your own reputation, tor it is better to be alone than In bad company.

27. Let your conversation be -without malice or envy, tor it is a sign of a tiactable and commendable nature; and, in all causes of passion, admit reason to govern. 28. Be not immodest in urging your friend to discover a secret. 29. Utter not ba6e and frivolous things among grave and learned men; nor very difficult questions or subjects among the ignorant; nor things hard to he believed. 30. Speak not of doleful things in time of mirth, nor at the table; speak not of melancholy thing*, is death and wounds, and, if others mention them, change if you can the discourse. Tell not your dreams but to your Intimate friend. 31. Break not a jest where none takes pleasure in mirth ; laugh not aloud, nor at all without occasion. Deride no man’s misfortune, though there seem to be some cause. 32. Speak not iniurious words, neither in jeßt nor earnest; scoff at none, although they give occasion. 33. Be not forward, but friendly and courteous ; the first to salute, hear and answer ; and be not pensive when it Is time to converse. 34. Detract not from others, neither be excessive in commanding. 35. Go not thither, where you know not whether you shall be welcome or not. Give not advice without being a3ked, and, when desired, do it briefly. 36. If two contend together, take not the part of either unconstrained, and be not obstinate in your own opinion; in things indifferent, be of the major side, 37. Reprehend not. the imperfections of others, for that belongs to parents, masters and superiors. 38. Gaze not on the marks or blemishes of others, and ask not how they came. What you may speak in secret to your friend, deliver not before others, 39. Speak not in an unknown tongue in company, but in your own language, and that as those of quality do, and not as the vulgar; sublime mat- ers treat seriously.' 40. Think b.dore you speak." pronounce not imperfectly, nor bring out your words too hastily, but orderly and distinctly. 41. When another speaks, be attentive yourself and disturb not the audience. If one hesitate In his words, help him not nor prompt him without being desired; interrupt him not nor answer him till his speech is ended. 42. Treat with qaen at fit times about business, and w hisper not In the company of otherß. 43. Make no comparisons ; and. if "any of the company be commended for any brave aet of virtue, commend not another for the same 44. Be uot apt, to relate news, if you know not the truth thereof. In discoursing" ot-things you have heard, name not your author always. A secret discover not. 45. Be not curious to know the affairs of others, neither approach to those that speak in private. 46. Undertake uot what you cannot perform, but be careful to keep your promise. 47. When you deliver a matter, do it in that passion, and with discretion, however mean the j>erson Ire you ao it to. 48. When your superiors talk to anybody, harken not, neither speak nor laugh. 49. In disputes be not so desirous to overcome as not to give liberty to each one to deliver his opinion; and submit io the judgment of the major part, especially if they are judges of the dispute. 50. Be not tedious in discourse, make not many digressions nor repeat often the same manner of discourse. 51. Speak not evil of the absent, for it is unjust. 52. Make no show of taking great delight in your victuals ; feed not with greediness ; lean uot on the table; neither find fault with what you eat. 53. Be not angry at table, whatever happens, and, if you have reason to be so, show it not’; put on a cheer.ul countenance, especially If there be strangers, for good-humor makes one dish of meat a least. 54. Set not yourself at the upper end of the table; but, if It L» your due, or that the master

of the house will have it so, contend not, lest. yon should trouble the company. 55. When yon speak of God, or His attributes, let it be seriously In reverenoe. Honor and obey your natural parents, although they be poor. 56. Let your recreations be manful, not sinful. 57. Labor to keep alive in your breast that> little spark of celestial Are, called conscience.