for public teachers, and especially those who are in preparation for such work, this little book has a special message. the world will not suffer long nor be kind to any exponent of truth who offends in platform etiquette, or in home courtesy. accordingly, i would urge my young fellow laborers to eschew everything in manner which could produce dislike or disgust in the most critical, for that most critical may be the very soul to whom you are sent.
as brethren in council together, cultivate only those things that can be used anywhere in an uncharitable world. do not allow anything to become habitual that will call attention to any part of the body or clothing. never finger the watch guard, coat buttons, nor the features of the face. unfortunate practices of this nature have nullified the effect of many a sermon. many a young 143 man has made a farce of his testimony for christ because he stood twirling his mustache; and many a sabbath-school teacher has failed to hold her pupils to the truth because her hat was filled with nodding plumes, flowers, or an elaborate tangle of ribbon.
good form insists that any sabbath display is vulgar, so that the woman of genuine social position will leave the elaborate church toilet to her servants, while she goes in the plainest of modest apparel to the house of god.
one great misfortune to both home and church is that good form has been considered a sort of parade dress, to be laid off with the “company” clothes. the home folks have been compelled to tolerate anything from each other, upon the supposition that nothing matters at home; when the fact is that there everything in dress and conversation matters more than in any other spot on earth.
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the home dress should be such as would be respectable if the wearer were called out by some emergency, with no time to change.
good form condemns the “mother hubbard,” and with good reason: its origin was infamous, its suggestions are such that the woman who wears it can not command the same respect from even her own family as though she were clothed with a modest garment.
society can and will reject the presence of one who is rude in speech or conduct, and in this has the advantage of the home; but the person who practices good form in society, and by a sullen, fault-finding, or untidy manner at home flatly contradicts every pretense of refinement, shall surely have his reward in the covert contempt of even those who love him; while any, however untrained in the arts of “polite society,” who shall practice those graces that make ordinary duties fragrant and sweet with the good manners 145 of heaven, will be accepted anywhere by any to whom he can be sent with a message. any awkwardness that a man may do will be pardoned beforehand for the sake of the beautiful spirit he is by the grace of god.
and yet it is well to make it just as hard as possible for the world to reject you, and just as easy as possible for it to accept your message.
all of which is written for the glory of our lord, and to the end that the truth may be carried to every creature.
