“He that walketh with wise men, shall be wise.”
“What must I do to secure a place in good society?” is a question that often perplexes the minds of the young as they begin to mingle with the world. The answer depends upon what is meant by the term. People differ as to what constitutes good society, and therefore a variety of definitions of it may be given, depending upon the diversity of their views.
One supposes good society to be an association of those who are rich and able to afford the luxuries of good living and elegant houses; of fashion and fine dress. Another thinks it consists of those who trace their family name and history back through generations of honored ancestors. Another imagines that official position or prosperous business gives a sure title to good society.
The Society of the Good
While wealth, good family connections, office honorably obtained, and flourishing business are very desirable, yet any of these alone, or all combined, do not make their possessors fit to enter such society and enjoy its benefits, without having some other and better qualifications. The definition we shall give of good society is the society of the good.
People are like birds: they go in flocks, each kind by itself. Those of similar feelings, tastes, and habits associate together. The good prefer to mingle with the good, and the bad are generally found with each other. There is truth in the old proverb, “Tell me the company you keep, and I’ll tell you what you are.”
The Good
But who are “the good?” The answer is: they who are educated to know, and trained to practice, the rules of good morals and gentle manners. Neither high birth, nor station, nor wealth, nor fashion, nor even intelligence alone can make the gentleman or lady. These proud titles properly belong to those who are “first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”
To be a lady or a gentleman is a high distinction, and worthy the study of every one who possesses an honorable ambition. There is not a boy in the land so poor, nor a girl so humble, who may not aspire to the knowledge which will secure this enviable superiority.
That it is a most important study, all who reflect upon the subject must admit, since it enables us to be good and to do good. Not a day passes in the company of others, in which we are not called upon to practice the lessons of morality and exhibit our knowledge of good manners. These lessons in goodness and politeness are necessary, if we would enter good society; for they are practiced only in its circles.
Counterfeit gentlemen and ladies are as common as counterfeit money; if there were no value in good currency, nobody would take pains to imitate it; so, if there were no real gentlemen, there would be no shams.
The King of Men
The Scottish poet Burns gives his idea of “the king o’ men” in the following extract:
What tho’ on hamely fare we dine,
Wear hoddin’ gray and a’ that,
Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine,
A man’s a man for a’ that;
For a’ that and a’ that,
Their tinsel show and a’ that,
The honest man though e’er sae poor
Is king o’ men, for a’ that.
Then let us pray, that come it may,
As come it will, for a’ that,
That sense and worth, o’er a’ the earth,
May bear the victory and a’ that;
For a’ that and a’ that,
It’s coming yet for a’ that,
That man to man the world o’er
Shall brothers be for a’ that.
Since the principles and laws of morality form so important a part of a good education, we shall offer such helps in these pages as will afford instruction upon this subject, and at the same time teach those rules and maxims of politeness which will enable the student to enter the society of the good with ease and comfort to himself, and with the approbation of his friends.
Our suggestions, we trust, will also be profitable to the family and the school, since that which is of such special advantage to the individual cannot fail to be desirable where numbers are closely united.
CHAPTER QUESTIONS
1. What is the subject of this chapter? Repeat the text.
2. What question commences the chapter?
3. Why do people differ in their ideas of good society?
4. What is a true definition of good society?
5. Why are people like birds?
6. Who are “the good”?
7. Why may we tell a man’s character by his company?
8. What are the characteristics of a gentleman?
9. Who may learn to be a gentleman?
10. Why should we study this subject?
11. Who are counterfeit gentlemen and ladies?
12. Who is described as the “king of men”?
13. Give the idea of the poet in his or in your own language.
14. What is the object of this book?
15. What advantage to the individual may be derived from this study?
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