The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-08-24
THE FOLLY OF PRETENCE.
sELF-DECEIvERs.

/ son! wad some power the giftie gle us
4 To see oursels as ithers see US"
l, is amusing, says the Philadelphia Enqui
rer, 10 listen 10 some persons, when describing
their own merits, qualifications, families anc
pecuniary circumstances. They either deceive
themselves, or they make most absurd effort,
10 deceive others, as to the real position they
occupy in the world. They may be amiable
and friendly enough, generally speaking. bu
they desire 10 appear better and more important
Than they really are, and in attempting to ac
complish this object of vanity, sefshness oil
pride, they assume 10 themselves faculties
qualifications, and advantages utterly al vari
ance with the facts, and calculated only TO ex.
cite smile. They pretend to condition oil
affairs that has no existence. They boast Of
their wealth, their associates, their family con
nexions and influence, and in so doing they
utter much extravaganza, much exaggeralion
lay, 10 speak plainly, much falsehood. Few
very few are misled by this policy. which with
majority it only produces feeling Of con,
tempt. The true course, the honest. the high
minded. is to aim at the loftiest qualities Of in
tegri'y. truth. reputab,y and unsullied char
ac'er, and not to forget the reality by wearing
mask, or assuming position which is not
really enjoyed. How frequently, too, do we
see individuals bow before money, BY eulogiz-
ing wealthy friends and relatives, as if an in>
timacy or connexion with such persons con
s'ituted matter of the least importance. II
merit formed the test, it courtesy, grace, benev-
olence and education-and these allied with
humility, were alluded, were alluded 10 as OBJ
jects Of admiration and ambition, the philoso
ply would indeed be commendable. But when
all these are sacrificed for money when dis.
honest man with an income OF $4,000 year
is spoken Of as little inferior to demgod
while an intelligent, virluous, but poor
man, is avoided-and when this course of pol
icy is regarded by those practising it. as calcu
lated 10 elevate them IN the eyes of the world
the folly and the guilt of such miserable pre-
lence are indeed palpable. There is another
error Of kindred character in social life, which
is by no means rare. 1t is the disposition even
among nelghbors, not to appear better than
they are in moral sense. bur weallher--not
10 aim ahworlh and virtue, but consequence
and importance, through the assumed or pre-
tended possession of money. If such really
were as rich as they pretend 10 be, the mistake
would still be serious one bu, being poor
comparatively. and yet assuming 10 be other
wise, The folly of such conduct is most absurd.
We very often, too, find people who boas, Of
some remote connexIon, as if such fact, sup
posing it 10 be a fact, were calculated to elevate
them in point Of merit and importance. They
forget that it is the duty Of all uol 10 Le,eriorate
in position and responsibility, not to depend
upon others for consequence and reputation
bur so To think and 10 act; as to render all such
influence unnecessary. And when too, as it
often happens these very connections are of no
moment whatever, the character must be lrail
and feeble, that is compelled TO lean upon them
for support But there are prelenders every
where, in all ranks and conditions of life The
self deceived may be found in every circle Of
society. They fancy that the world is blind,
and they alone can see, They are misled by
passion, BY prejudice. by vanity, by interest.
or by some other qualify Of the kind, and thus,
mistaken themseIves, they are deluded with
the notion tina, others cannot pene,rate the Thin
veil with which they attempt TO disguise their
motives. Ear better to think and act honestly,
10 spirit Of ruth, manliness and independence,
for then we shall have no occasion for the ho
low and shallow trickery Of pre'enson, no rea
son 10 seem other Than we are--no cause to
overprase our associates, TO exaggerale our
Influence, or administer, by means Of misrep,
resenlaon and ialsehood, to our vanity and
self importance.