The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1830-08-28
DIFFIDENCE.

VI postVm0kOs
e DIFFIDENCE.
II is my misfortune to be one OF those unin
teresting creatures, in these days termed
a diffident man. Diaidence in my case,
as with most others who are afflicted with
this unhappy fault, is perfectly natural
Indeed, & appears to me, that l might faith
ON a. deep question in philosophy OF solve
a most intricate problem in mathe matics,
with far greater ease than / could divest
myself, even for short tine, Of this pro-
psnsity of my disposition. To give true
description of the disadvantages, which !
labor under from being thus naturally de-
ficient ia the requisite qualities Of . gen
tlsmas, It may not BE- smiss to explain
what appears to be the present acceptable
definition ofthe phrases diffident man.
Well then, a difsdent man is biped Of
length, breadth, and depth az may be-in
no way differing essentially from the ordi-
nary members, of his species, except in
those two important members Of his fab
c=hn mind asd HE tongue: The for
mer Of these, unfortunate for him, is>of a
cast, ,proue to look upon every thing, which
circumstances may suggest to it, with an
eye Of criticism, as IL to ascertain its ca
pacity to afford interest or profit, and of
course unless something more than the
trifling occurrences of common life il pre-
sented to it, is generally disposed 70 avoid
an exposure ofthsa things which stve i
employment the latter, viz. his tongue,
destitute of that flippancy, which gives
such constant employment to thu ioqua-
cious, is Of course constrained to- remain,
large portion ofthe time, entiseH inact-
i've. A being possessing such properties
ofmind and tongue is adiffident man, and
consequent proper definition Of the term
is one who in society sits mute, says very
little, and appears abstracted from the
things around him. ! said I would give
an acceptable definition of the term
Well, this is acceptable to me but, al
though it may not be very gratifying to
my vanity, a. being one interested, never
theless, L do not think it policy 10 conceal
the epithets, which are bestowed on me
and those of my class, by others, and those
too, who are allowed to be sensible per-
sons. Some people, how kind call us
pitilllly sedate; others in their uabridled
dislike ofour still qualities and in the full
ness of their displeasure, vent upon US the
cruel epithets Of wooden men, clowns,
fools, simpletons and the like unAatterins
titles; and in 6ns, we pre- the most psrse.
cuted class of beings on EARTH RogeI
Williams was driven to Rhode-Island, be-.
cause he promoted sentiments displeasine
to our Pilgrim Fathers, and the people o.
Coventry have lately driven misister ou'
oftown, because his sspublic talkn hurt thu
feelings ofthe people but we, unoAend-
ing creatures, who do nothing bad, and
say nothing at all, must nseds be persscu.
ted, scorned, laughed at and ridiculed BY
every body. o il il intolerable Blu,
seriously, could you blame = person fol
not talking when hs can find nothing te
say lack the genius-I have not the
gin to talk about nothing. Some people
talk enough to wear out such tongue Al
mine forty times, and enough to exhaust
all my patience, even i'll had - much a.
Job. ! am sometimes tormcnted BY such
persons, and every moment think Of the
man in the Vicar Of Wakefield, who a
the end Of every sentence delivered by .
volubls lsdy ia his company, responded to
4 with IN smphsfjs fbdgs : q In clos
'ing," ] viii ssy 10 sll, who are dispIsss'