How-to-Behave-A-Pocket-Manual-of-Republican-Etiquette-and-Guide-to-Correct-Personal-Habits-54

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loyal	 life,	 acting	 and	 speaking	 always	 and	 everywhere	 in	 accordance	with	 the
laws	of	our	being,	as	revealed	in	our	own	physical	and	mental	organization.	It	is
by	the	light	of	this	fact	that	we	must	look	upon	all	social	requirements,	whether
in	dress,	manners,	or	morals.	All	that	is	fundamental	and	genuine	in	these	will	be
found	to	harmonize	with	universal	principles,	and	consequently	with	our	primary
duty	in	reference	to	ourselves.
1.	The	Senses.
Whenever	and	wherever	we	come	in	contact	with	our	fellow-men,	there	arises	a
question	of	 rights,	and	consequently	of	duties.	We	have	alluded	 incidentally	 to
some	 of	 them,	 in	 speaking	 of	 habits	 and	 dress.	 The	 senses	 of	 each	 individual
have	their	rights,	and	it	is	your	duty	to	respect	them.	The	eye	has	a	claim	upon
you	for	so	much	of	beauty	in	form,	color,	arrangement,	position,	and	movement
as	you	are	able	to	present	to	it.	A	French	author	has	written	a	book,	the	aim	of
which	is	to	show	that	it	is	the	duty	of	a	pretty	woman	to	look	pretty.	It	is	the	duty
of	all	women,	and	all	men	too,	to	look	and	behave	just	as	well	as	they	can,	and
whoever	 fails	 in	 this,	 fails	 in	 good	 manners	 and	 in	 duty.	 The	 ear	 demands
agreeable	 tones	 and	 harmonious	 combinations	 of	 tones—pleasant	 words	 and
sweet	songs.	If	you	indulge	in	loud	talking,	in	boisterous	and	untimely	laughter,
or	 in	profane	or	vulgar	 language,	or	sing	out	of	 tune,	you	violate	 its	rights	and
offend	 good	 manners.	 The	 sense	 of	 smell	 requires	 pleasant	 odors	 for	 its
enjoyment.	Fragrance	is	its	proper	element.	To	bring	the	fetid	odor	of	unwashed
feet	 or	 filthy	 garments,	 or	 the	 stench	 of	 bad	 tobacco	 or	 worse	 whisky,	 or	 the
offensive	scent	of	onions	or	garlics	within	 its	sphere,	 is	an	act	of	 impoliteness.
The	sense	of	taste	asks	for	agreeable	flavors,	and	has	a	right	to	the	best	we	can
give	in	the	way	of	palatable	foods	and	drinks.	The	sense	of	feeling,	though	less
cultivated	and	not	so	sensitive	as	the	others,	has	its	rights	too,	and	is	offended	by
too	great	coarseness,	roughness,	and	hardness.	It	has	a	claim	on	us	for	a	higher
culture.
	IV. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES.
	III.—DUTIES.
	1. The Senses.