Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-05-07
rh. .i,.nrs ,,ualiIy called vanity, IS .

principle OF selhshness, anu II exaCey vi,
reverse of the scriptural precept, Les each
esteem other better than himself. 1t were
difficult to define it, and still more dlih-
cult to describe it in all its symptoms
and trace it throughout all its numerous
b, anches: and yet, if you observe, with
close and discriminating eye. it IS I'M
possible to mistake it; for to the minds
ken, it is clearly visible, in its very shape
however undefnable and indescrlbable.
Vanity is as it were 8" the froth Of
PRIDE" and is distinguishable from down,
right anmixed pride, which is stiff and
unbeudiug: whereas vanity is flexible,
and bends any way aud every way to set
itself of. But though vanity is differ
emit in some respects from pride, it has, in
its nature, perhaps quite as much selfish,
ness self-display being its constant anu
invariable object, or rather the pole-star'
to which its every thought and every ac-
ton tendeth.
Although the principal foot Of vanity,
is wealth, rank, learning, wit, beauty,
eloquence, strength. yalor, or the what
ever some thins that distinguishes the in
dividuai from the multitude yet it can
live, and thrive, on food OF almost every
kind and nature. Z" We may see vanity
living in a hovel, vanity clothed in rags,
vanity begging by the way. vanity con-
Joined with bodily ugliness and defor.
mity:" it is to be found, as we'll in savage,
as in civilized life, as well amongst the
squaIid add beggarly race Of gyPsies, as
in polished society. In a word, it can
find nourishment ard qualification IN all
extremes-in the haggard looks and squa-
lid haSilimeuts of hermit provided they
confer distinction-as much as in bro
cades, pearls and diamonds. 1t is quite
as much gratifed with the distlncnoa OF
Humiiity. as with that Of loftiness aud
splendsr. If a CARDINAL of the Romlsh
Church is vain OF the lofty title, His Em'-
n,ncs, the Greek patriarch Of CenstantI-
nople is probably 20 l,ss vain OF the hum
biz title, His Loneliness. Nor was the
vanity of the mo t 70 dly and aspiring OF
all the Poprs of Rome, ever more graft
fed perhaps. than when. under the gaze
of the public, they were employed. upon
their knees, in washing the feet OF some
of their begga-!y vassals. In sober TRUTH
vanity is never more conveniently iodg-
ed. than when she lays concealed under
the disguise Of eminent humility.
Sometimes, Vanity, to gain her point.
disc,aims even her own existence. ISdy
it vithout panity-I speak 1t pithout the
least osfsntation--is often made the pro-
Iosue to accommodation.
1t is questionable whether man would
BE- laughing animal, if he were not a
rain one. But. without all question, it is
vanity. that NEST generally affects his RI
sibles whe' he laug hs at his fellow man.
In many instances. Public Virtue never
would have gone so far, If Vanity had not
borne it company. Jehu, for example.
never had driven so furiously, to carry
forward holy cause. had not vanity rode
along with him." Come see my zeai!!"
What is called Liberality, frequently is
nothing more than the vanity Of, giving.
We are exceedingly prene to give, lwhen:
ever we give at ally hoping to receive-if
net in kird, at least in credit and honor.
So, also, Vanity gives praise, in hopes OF
receiving it back again with interest.
1t is owing TO vanity, that we volunta.
rily endure unhappiness, to appear happy;
that we rob ourselves Of necessaries, to
appear as If our circumstances were
plentiful and aiflueut. Many one is at
more expense in maintaining Vanity's
brood, than it would cost him to bring up,
in a plain way, family of children
Vanity undertakes itself, with view
to extort praise. When any one" saith
DR.. Johnson) complains of the want Of
what he is known to possess in an emf
nent degree, he waits with impotence to
be contradicted."
Reproof is often given, not so much to
mend the reproved, as to shew that the
reproyer is tree from the faults himself.
Advice is often offered, rather to give
the adviser the air Of wisdom, than to be-
nefit the advised.
Secrets, often times are diyulged, more
from the vanity Of ones having been in
trusted with them, than from any other
motive.
Asvanity.-;n difleren, proportions, va
riously directed, mixed up with different
forms-is a universal quality or ,princi-
pie in mankind, SO it belongs to our .spr'
c;es exclusively perhaps. For we have
no reason to think that. either above O.
below us, in the whole universe OF God
there is any other race or order OF cr.i
lures fully like TO man in this respect.
Nor man, nov woman, is there, WHIT
hath rot so much as little spice of va
nifty either in external conduct, or in thu
4 1900 folJ. of Tho mind and heart In