The weekly Placer herald., 1854-03-25
For the Placer Herald.
@sD NJ E% WI 0DN
By Deacon Tralfaith Grimvisage.
VANITY.

''Remove far from me vanity and lies, give
me neither poverty nor riches, feed me with
food convenient for me-
BRETHREN AND SIsTERs-I have chosen
this subject not because | believe the text
Is true in its fullest sense, but because |
think my opinions on the subject will be
refreshing to your souls.
do not believe all is vanity by Jug
full, or that Il reasonable quantity is OBJ
jectIonable by any means. For instance
here are my sermons, no one can say that
there is any vanity in them.
They have become fixed substantive
fact, and occupy place alongside the
Sheriffs sales, and the advertisements for
lost dogs and stray husbands. Moreover
they are the instruments by means of
which a great reform is to be worked
OUT mighty revolution is to spring up
from the lessons they incuIcate. These
sermons are as necessary to the times as
the Bloomer costume or Pacific Raj road,
and the increased circulation of the Placer
Herald proves it, Why have been con-
fidentally informed by the colored brother
that rolls for that paper and polishes the
understanding of the editor thereof, that
five thousand extra copies failed to sup
ply the demand-that for four hours on
the morning of publication, all the streets
and avenues for two squares adjacent 70
the office, are one dense mass of thirsty
applicants shouting at the top of their
lungs for the Herald. He tells me that
in order to supply this increased and in
creasing demand, the publisher has it in
contemplation to purchase two steam pow
er presses, and establish paper mill and
type boundary for the exclusive use of
that office And this ali on account of
these sermons-w then shall say there
is vanity in these sermons?
shall buckle on my armor anew, and
90 forth as bold as sheep, conquerng
and to conquer, and verify,
''He who at my teachings scoff
Shall have his ugly head cut off,
PoPEsPEAR.
Vanity, my friends is not among your
worst vices, OH the contrary | have seri-
Gus doubts about chasing it with the vices.
In revolving this perplexing question in
my mind, have lost four nights of sleep,
and otherwise seriously impaired my con-
stltution. This strain upon my vltals
can't stand any longer, so have adopted
the young America motto of "dash away
dirty face" and will make some come
if possible.
In the execution of this plan shall
divide my discourse inte three heads upon
the princi pie that two heads are better
than one, and of course, three better than
two.
We will therefore, first enquire into
vanity propsr, secondly van'ty masculine,
and third and lastly vanity feminine
The term vanity, | find is derived, like
the dish of buIl-frogs, from the French,
vanite, who derived it from the Latin
uanitas, one Of the dervatons of vanus,
vain. The last word is defined by Noah
Webster, as ''proud of petty things or of
trhing attainments, elated with a high
opinion of ones own accomplishments,
or with things more snowy than valuable,
conceited." Another author quite as
plain as polite, says vanity is "emptiness,
arrogance, falsehood," but | think he's
wrong. never felt vain in my life over
an empty stomach-the thing can't be did.
As for arrogance its term used in politics,
and is applied to persons who grasp after
honors that they don't deserve, and that
the people won't allow them to have, and
therefore more properly defintive of the
sin of sinatorialism. My chief objection
to the word "falsehood" is that, in its use
in that place, it touches too close upon
some of the sisters, and that no good
orthodox deacon can for moment tolerate.
Upon the whole Pm inclined to think,
that the word means nothing more than
the having little too high an opinion Of
ones beauty, talents, accomplishments,
and Importance in relation to the affairs
of the rest of the world, and viewing it in
tina: light, we will see that so long as the
exercise of it is restrained to ones self,
no one is harmed but the culprit.
I'll venture the remark. however, that
two vain persons never were known to
get on pleasantly long at time, which
accounts for so much squabbling among
politicians, professional men, and the
ladies
This is fruitful theme, and could 60
on celebrating, and illustrating until
burst, with this mighty question, but as |
have shown you the roots Of the subject.
and followed them up until the trunk of
the tree is fairly before you, will now
pass to an examination of the branches.
Vanity masculine, is disease quite
fatal to young man, when once effectu-
ally fastened upon the system. In an
aggravated form il is called the swell-head