REFINEMENT

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · April 8, 1880

FromThe Review and Herald, Vol. 55, No. 15

True refinement is not mere outside polish. It goes deeper, and penetrates to the foundations of character. A really refined person does not speak or think of what is coarse, or low, or immodest. Her words are pure and her acts delicate. As sensitive as a flower, she does not like to associate with those who are not clean in life and behavior.

We have seen perfect refinement in women whose education had been limited, whose opportunities had been few, and whose lives had been a struggle with poverty and care. Homely in manner, and not always grammatical in speech, the sweetness of a delicate nature was visible in all they did and said, shining as the flame of a lamp through an alabaster shade. And we have seen ladies arrayed in velvet and furs, ladies of great elegance of acquired art, who were still so coarse that one was reminded constantly of the jackdaw who borrowed the peacock’s plumes. Along with true refinement go graceful ways of conferring favors, ready and pleasing tact in helpfulness, and gentleness, which is the crown of womanly beauty.