THE ORIGIN OF BOWINO. 199 



began with the servile and self-seeking adulation 

 of tlie great by their inferiors ; it has ended witli 

 the relined and polished intercourse of equals, 

 who respect themselves and one another, defer 

 mutually in their conversation or arrangements, 

 and so far as possible postpone tlieir own personal 

 convenience to the pleasure and comfort of the 

 society around them. In the East and in all 

 despotic countries, the prevalent politeness is still 

 the politeness of grossly servile llattery. The 

 mild Hindoo habitually describes himself in 

 speaking as "your slave." If you ask him whose 

 horse that is, he answers, "Your Highness'," 

 meaning it is his own, and, like all that belongs to 

 him, absolutely at your service. The phrase 

 "Thy servant" is common in the Bible narratives, 

 as it still is in Syria and Egypt. Self-abasement, 

 real or pretended, before a great man is, in fact, 

 the very root idea of Oriental politeness. In 

 Spain and other parts of Southern Europe much 

 the same extravagent ceremonial expressions still 

 prevail. In taking leave of a friend, you throw 

 yourself (verbally only) at his Excellency's feet ; 

 on meeting a lady, you observe that you kiss the 

 senora's hand. But, as we reach the freer, more 

 industrial, and more self-respecting northern coun- 

 tries, we find a genuine consideration for each 

 other's feelings replacing this overwrought and 

 exaggerated verbiage. With ourselves excessive 



