The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-12-02
FOLLY OF TRYING TO PLEASE EVERY
RODY.


There is a happy medium betwixt the
heartless disposition to please nobody, and
the absurd aim to please every body; and
fortunate are they who find this middle ling,
and keep in it so steadily as seldom to run in
to the extreme on either side.
1t is no good sign to be Indifferent with re-
spcct to what the world thinks or says of u.s.
since it would argue either pride or total
lack of sensibility. This would be the charac-
ter of such Indifference, were it real but, in
truth, it is mere affectation or pretence. If
we expect those that are at the very bottom
of human life, and only small proportion,
even of them, it may be fairly concluded that
no man or women, is altogether indifferent
about the good or bad opinion of fellow be-
ings. SO far from It, the few who lay claim
to this unalienable distinction have been
found, generally speaking, peculiarly rancor-
Gus and vindictiyc toward such as had mere
| ly spoken disrcspcctfuily OF their talents.
No authors, for example, have wi1thed with
more agony under the lash of criticism, or
been more jealous and vindictive, than some
of those who pretended to look down with
cold scorn upon the whole fraternity OF cri-
| tics.
Social qualities and feelings are among the
primitive ingredients of our nature, and to di-
vest ourselves of them would be to divest
ourselves Of humanity itself. They are ra-
thcr to be cherished and cultivated, every
way, and by all lawful means. 1t is not only
right but laudable, to wish to be generally
esteemed and bcloved--to cultivate friend
ship--to avoid giving unnecessary offence
and to conform to the feelings and customs OF
those about us, so far as may be done with
good conscience, and consistently with ones
personal circumstances. 1t is not only right
but laudabc, to make it a part OF onr own
pleasure to please others, and when we are
compelled to differ with them, to do it,
il possible, without rancour or bitterness.
There is such thing as a union CT con-
desccnson and firmncss; and happy thing
it is. To condcscend in things indifferent, IN
things trivial, in things that touch net the
conscience, nor seriously harm or cndanGcl
ones earthly interest and welfare; and
meanwhile to go not step farther tor any
persuasion whatever; no, not to please one S
nearest fricnds--that is the golden mean.
As some pretend to care for none there
are those who, on the other hand, try to
please all, becoming--not in its best sense
call things to all men," Some do it from
selfish designs altogether; and others from
too yielding temper. These last cannot
bear, in any case, to be opposed or to OPP
= pose and so they readily fall in with the
sentiments and views of their present COM
: panv, and side with every man they meet
! Often this plability Of mind or temper i'
owing to a sort of amiablc weakness, but i
is destructive of all responsibility OF charac
ter.
| know not how to Illustrate this point bet
ter than by the following story, which as t(
Z substance and pith, may be regarded as un
doubtcd!y true -
Some very long time since, Parson NJ
J. of Massachusetts (then British colony,) be
S ing at Boston, bought him wig there, an(
+, returning home, wore it at the church mex
Sabbath. AS a wig Of such size and shap'
: was quite novelty in that obscure place, j
J. gave offence 10 almost the whole congrcga
G ton, who, both male and female repaired
, the next day to their minister's house, ant
stated their complaint, the burden Of which
. was, that the wig was one OF the Boston no
|. tions. and had the look Of fashion and pride
s The good natured minister, thcre-upon
= brought it forth, and made them fashion i
/, to their own liking. This task they setabou
d in good earnest, and with the help of scissors
i cropped off lock after lock, till at last they al
= declared themselves satisfied save one, e,--wh
4 alluded, that wearing any wis at all, wa
:, breach of the commandment, which saith
"Thou shall not make unto thee any grave
images, or any likeness of any thing, that IS !
# heaven above, or that is in the cart
:, beneath This last objector Mr. NJ, 81
!, lcnccd, by convincing him that the wig, il
= tho condition it then was, did not rcsembi
: any thing either above or below. Even S
u fares it with the characters that make
+ their aim to please every body. Slashe'
on this side and OH that, and twisted int
every shape and out of all shape, they final
: " come to the condition of his reverence
Il wig.