Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1844-11-07
fox 4nE ENaUnREA'
PERSONAL DIGNITY.

PERSONAL DIGNITY.
= In what consists my personal dignity" 10 d
question about which every one has his distinct
theory. We make mp OUT minas Upon this e nP0a
most other subjects, from natural temperament
from the degree of discipline tOwhiCh We have
subjected ourselves and from the circumstance
that surrounded Ills in early life.
Perhaps Il = easier 70 say Whaa Il b Mt, thar
what it is There isaM order Of men who, by s0mg
apparent accident rise from very low origin, to dss
tinction, and even to public stations, without the
slightest perceivable merit in themselves. But q
man of this class can attain to true personal
dignity. If he have just estimate Of his OWn A.
bilities he will be constantly oppressed with the
idea Of his own nferiOrity: and his efforts viii be-
concentrated to that which he suppOses to be his
weak point that he may Fortify himself from attack
Hence you win find him, from sort Of nervous So
licitude forever Overacting his part; Jealous. Aut~
tering, uneasysehsitive to every show ofencEoach'
ment upon his rights, and making the same demon
stration of resistance towards every offender with
out regard to his condition. To be oves-solictous
to keep ones dignity is the surest way to lose it,
1t ought to receive proper shareof ones prudence
and foresight, it ought to be treated with respect;
but it ought never to be petted and fondled. Give
it only its just nutriment feed it fosteringiy with
good sense. beneyo.ence and the whole round fthe
social virtues-give it ample room for growth, u
ell-prepared soil, and, with the dews Of Heaven
upon it, you shall 6nd in it selfsustaining power
and vigorous vitality that will expand its branch
es and beautify its foliage from year to year. ..
To treat those whom we suppose to be our infe-
riors with haughtiness Overlooking words, is not
conducive to personal dignity. We have among Us
no grades or ranks established by ancient custom,
or by tie imperative precepts Of law. Hence, in
great degree standing in society is left to the
whims and caprces of the multitude. As regards
our reputation we may be said to be at their mer.
cy at any moment. Yet nature has so constituted
most men, that there is little danger that true mer.
it shall pass unobserved. Every noble self.sacri-
fee, every exalted example Of disnterested suffer.
ing for the good of others, every generous glow Of
feeling, every well.timed developement Of genius,
is seen, felt, appreciated, at last The reward
may lnger long and seemingly hesitate, that it may
be the more priced when possessed; but sooner or
later it will come. r.-
q Neither can any one possess personal dignity
who does not keep close eye on his future as we'll
as his present standing. A shutting temporizer,
who is satisfied if he can but relieve himself hom
the little emergency Of the moment, can never
reach it. 1t must grow out of continuity Of con.
duct, consistency Of action that holds its equable
course from year TO another, perfect, as I'm.
broken as the thread Of that life upon which it de-.
ponds. Sometimes indeed, from redundancy OF
feeling, like healthy mountain-stteam it may
break for while from its barriers, but it 10 onlyto
gladden. and invigorate the verdure upon its banks,
not to sweep it to the ocean.
Nor is dignity ever enhanced by that mantle Of
sulkness and naughty reserve often thrown over
the shoulders Of the stupid and ignorant, to keep
them at an unapproachable distance from those
whom they are pleased to call the vulgar. Alas,
we are unuvoidably subjected to contact with many
things in the world which we fancy to be beneath
US. We are even compelled to tread upon the
common earth-to breathe the noxious vapors that
rise from its surface. Our exhalted human nature
is often wrapped in fogs and mists. Our faces are
often drenched by unceremonious rains, or pelted
by reckless SHOWS. And il the lineaments Of an
allwse intelligence reside in the featuresof others.
tho according 20 our own estimate) in less de-
gree than in our owns would il be beneath the dig.
nifty of one of Natures noblest sons, to respect, II
not the clay, at least the Deity there delneated'
We may not, from difference Of education or taste
associate with all Unfortunately, and we need
not. But when we attempt to try titles for digni.
y before the court Of our own judgment, it is for
others to say whether they will acknowledge the
authry of the tribunal, or the binding force Of the
adjudication. II.
Fire IN RorLWy.-The barn Of Herman B. East'
man OF Roxhury with III contet,fa was DESTROYED