Autobiography of Charles Caldwell, M.D / with a preface, notes, and appendix, by Harriot W. Warner.

  • Charles Caldwell
Date:
1855
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Autobiography of Charles Caldwell, M.D / with a preface, notes, and appendix, by Harriot W. Warner. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    ner. If I uncovered, as I usually did in speaking to a gentleman, or even to a man of ordinary appearance and breeding, he did the same in his reply; and when I touched my hat to a liveried coachman or waiting-man, his hat was immediately under his arm. So much may be done, and such advantages gained, by simply avoiding coarseness and vulgarity, and being well-bred and agree- able. Nor can the case be otherwise. For the foundation of good-breeding is good-nature, and good-sense; two of the most useful and indispensable attributes of a well-constituted mind. Let it not be forgotten, however, that good-breeding is not to be regarded as identical with politeness; a mistake which is too fre- quently, if not generally committed. A person may be exceedingly polite without the much higher and more valuable accomplish- ment of good-breeding. But to return from this digression. 3. A third reason why I have assumed the responsibility of writing this work^is, not only a hope, but also a belief, that it will be more or less useful to those who may peruse it. Indeed, to whatever extent the allegation may be construed into self-con- ceit and self-praise, I do not hesitate to assert that it will most certainly be useful in no inconsiderable degree, provided the pro- per application be made of its contents. It is composed, in part, of the matured and selected fruit of long-continued and oft-re- peated observation and experience; and, I need hardly say, that fruit of that description, unless entirely neglected, misunderstood, or in some other way misused or abused, can never fail to be salutary in its influence. When, as an inexperienced youth, of an ardent spirit, and a high-toned temperament, I myself first embarked on the untried ocean of life, with its open turbulence and lurking dangers; a code of directions, physical and moral, as correct and abundant as I am willing to persuade myself thjs work contains, in lan- guage and example, would have been to me a treasure whose value I shall not attempt to compute. It would have been no less important to me than is a correct and skilfully executed chart to the adventurous young mariner, not yet instructed and sufii- ciently disciplined in the school of experience. By apprisino- me of the perils of the voyage before me, and exciting my vigilance and care to avoid them, it would have saved me from many a disaster that befell me; and being now before the public, I trust
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