On Learning and the Aris. 459 
counterfeit, which assumes an: honoured name, 
and tricks herself out in a respected garb and 
form, but has. nothing within. of the loveliness 
and worth of the original. -Itis thus that fora 
while, and for ever with the ignorant and the 
credulous, supersition, may be mistaken for re- 
ligion, the traitor’ for the patriot, the sycophant 
for the friend, the seducer for the lover, and the 
hypocrite for the honest man.. But the fraud 
is discovered, and while the imposture sinks into 
irredeemable contempt and infamy, the solid 
Virtue remains unimpeached, and acquires re- 
newed splendour from the odious contrast. 
Thus it is with politeness; her origin is honour- 
able; her foundation is firm; her seat is in the 
heart ; her range, of action is the whole inter- 
course of man ; but her favoured residence is the 
breast of woman; woman, who with 
Love in her eye, and grace in all her walk, 
was designed to allure, to attract, to scatter roses 
on all the paths of life, 
Such as is woman in her best character, such 
is politeness. She visits undressed uncultivated 
man; in her whole intention, in her whole man- 
ner she is kind. The ruggedness of manners is 
smoothed under her steps, her smiles calm the 
turbulence of passion, and man is not allowed to 
approach man but in the form and language of 
kindness, The ingenuously honest and good 
