| Citation |
PC.768.029
15-22 Feb 1768:251, 252 (58)
The Visitant. (No. 4) To render an action the object of
complete approbation, it must not only be good in itself--it
must likewise be performed in an handsome manner. . . [20
lines] When a fashion is used by people of quality, we
think it genteel. The same fashion, when it is dropt by the
quality, and taken up by the peasants, we consider as
clownish and vulgar.
From these principles arises the value of politeness;
which I define to be, the natural and graceful expression of
the social virtues. . . [2 paragraphs]
It is of importance to distinguish politeness from a
pretender, which sometimes assumes its appearance, but
arises from a very different source. The pretender I mean,
is foppery. A man of politeness expresses, in an handsome
manner, the emotions he feels. A fop piques himself upon
counterfeiting the natural expression of passions, of which
his unfurnished soul is unsusceptible. When a polite man
makes a bow, he discovers his respect, when he congratulates
the fortunate, he only speaks the concording sentiments of
his own heart; when he commiserates the unhappy, he only
utters the genuine declarations of compassion and humanity.
A fop, on the contrary, will take an opportunity of shewing
the skill of his dancing-master, by bowing to you with a
studied formality, while he secretly hates you; he will pour
forth the torrent of congratulatory phrases, which he has
taken pains to learn by rote, while he envies your success;
he will lament your misfortunes in an awkward form of
condolence, and will laugh at them, so soon as he is gone
from your presence. . .
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