The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1845-03-15
ORIGINAL.
The june bug Letters.
DEAR NEPHEW.
LETTER w.
MADISON, Feb. 90, Ls45

1 DEAR NEPHEW,
There is great fault in
zone persons of constantly embellshing Of
exaggerating every snecdote which they in.
lroduce into conversation. Such persons
are scarcely able to tell tale as they heard
ut, for while they were listening TO 1t ,hei
ingenuity was at work, adding a little il
one place, pairing off little in an other, ,ant
bringing the whole story into such a sh ape
as nigh, appear most humorous or instruct
i've lothemseves. The disposition TO EN-
belsh arises from desire TO please and a
vanity of appearing smart. ExaggeraIior
usually robs an anecdole Of its simplicity
and accordance with nature, which are the
very grounds upon which it is pleasing;
and surely The reputation Of wit is purchas
ed at too dear a rate when ruth is exchang
! ed for il. a person of this habit was once
telling an exaggerated tale 10 Aristotle ant
thinking the philosopher could not bu. be
| pleased with The naraliOC finished with say
ing, "s not this wonderfui!' No. replied
Aristotle, but it is wonderful that any one
having feet would stay TO hear you through.
am desirous that you always avoid an
other fault which arises from toe same sour
ces, namely Gaming kind Of conversation
mean, do not affect sensbili,y land feel
ing In regard 10 morality, and religion
which is not real. You will soon be detect
ed, and II cannot fail 10 render you con
empHbIe and ridiculous. lf you are devoid
of feeling On these subjects shame ough
effeclualy TO close your mouth, but it you
really feel, as hope you do, lei that feeling
itself, keep you IRON eiiecling mor6 yea
han you possess. Bot there ls anolhe
kind Of cant which you cannot have failed
TO notice, aud hope could not hear wilhou
indignation: II is that OF young men whC
ridicuIe, and pretend 10 despise street chris
lian morality. while they in reality admir-,
it. They do so probably fro the mistaAei
notion that they Iise IN the esteem Of lhos,
who hear lhem,apd laugh and applaud lhei
wil,icisms. But rhe real hardened wicked
who esteem msniIf their appreciation Cal
be called esteem) Tor rldicuIng these sub
| jeois are 10 few resuicled.' Hundred
will laugh and applaud such canting, VIII,
disapprove Of it, and will remember lh
csnleE only TO speak evil Of him afterwards
for it. But hope you stand in no need 0
being farther admonshed on this subject.
DR.. Franklin in his life written by him
SELF says, that vanity should be considere,
as one OF the blessings bestowed upon us b.
providence, and he insists lha, we ought Il
thank God for ii. II The Doctors view /
correct, how many young persons have tn
greatest reason 10 be lhankiui} With wha
heartfelt devotion, should those adore III
giver Of all good, whose walk and motion
whose expression Of counlenancs, and ton
Of voice all indicate, thai in their own est
nation they are superalively wise, good
and beautiful! But whatever causes fc
] thsnkfulness they may have, the vain hsv
never been remarkable for gratitude, ,perhap
, because they sre so much absorbed in III
contemplation Of their own eXceilencics, ,th;
they forget every Thing else.
I But why does Frankln think vanity
|, bessing' II is principal Of action, an
, prompts the individual possessed OF il, /
= strain every nerve 10 appear as great in III
eyes Of others, as lie does IN his own. i
noraul and sllly fellows would do nothing,
They saw themselves as others see then
= but, believing that they are fit for any min
lhey try eUery Ming and so find sOmethil
: hat they can do. The less good sense an
e discernmeni man has, the more vanity b
d, needs to set him al work Nature has di
lribu'ed it among mankind in accordant
with this maxim, giving but little of it
V the man whose knowledge Of himself, at
of society is sufficient TO make hm act, b.
E lbesowing immense quantities of it {
u hose who have nothing e.se TO make the
o move,
, For as in bodies, so in souls we find,
n What wants in blood and spint tswells with win
\ 1t is as il were a substitute for sens
- kindly bestowed on all to whom ,ense
denied;and although II is blessing TO tho
= who possess it, it s a greater blessing TO
Inlab to live without it. Hoping that y,
n will be able to get along 10 The world wit
r ou' the assistance Of vanity.
oil remain your Uncle,
" AMOS GORDON.
To JAMES BAGBY.