THE ILL-BRED GENERAL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXII, Issue XXII, 3 June 1899, Page 778

THE ILL-BRED GENERAL.

One could have dismissed with a smile the man, mentioned by Coleridge, who never spoke of himself without lifting his hat. Even the Scotch clergyman who prayed. *O Lord! gie us a glide consait o' oursel’s,’ would have caused a lifting of the eyebrows rather than the furrowing of the forehead. ft is the vain, pompous, selfimportant man that irritates. He stings like a nettle, for he is intent on pleasing only one person—himself.

An old story—it was told sixty-five years ago in Dunlap’s "History of the Aits of Design’—shows that such natures are controlled, not by tenderhanded strokes, but by a usage as rough as a nutmeg-grater. In the days of the stage-coach five men once occupied the coach which journeyed from New York to Boston. One. General 1., was so inflated with self-importance as to be unapproachable, and another was a sprightly Frenchman who had no hesitation in approaching any one.

‘lVerfine vedder, sair,’ said he, addressing the general. ‘Humph!’ grunted the American, drawing himself up to his full stature, six feet two. The Frenchman soon drew out his snuff-box, —then a social link, as the cigar-case is now, —and offered it to the general, who, without even a word or a bow, averted his face. The box was handed round, and each of the ether three gentlemen took a pinch and entered into conversation with the Frenchman. He. ignoring the illbreeding of the general, tried again and again to draw him into the common talk,; but the repulsive ‘Humph!’ compelled him to turn his back upon the self-sufficient officer.

At the tavern where the stage stopped overnight the passengers were shown into the common room appropriated to all travellers. The general, whose surly silence showed his resentment at this democratic treatment, called loudly, after two or three minutes, for the waiter. ‘Vaitaire!’ echoed the Frenchman. The general looked at the little man

and seated himself. The little man looked at the tall man, and also sat down.

’Bring me a pair of slippers!' said the general, as the waiter entered. "Bring me two pairs of slippers!’ shouted monsieur.

"(live me a candle!’ said the general, looking a thousand contempts. "Bring me two candaile!' shouted the foreigner. "Quick, sir,’ said the angry general, ‘show me to bed!’ •Quick, sair,’ echoed the Frenchman, "show me two beds!’

The next day the general proceeded •>u his journey in a private carriage. As lie departed, I’at, the waiter, was heard saying to himself, "Now. if I know the maning of this. I’ll be bothered!’

The moral, however, is plain: it is that, when travelling, common courtesy smooths the road better than a steam-roller.