Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-06-18
Written for the Spirit of the Age.
The Temptations Of False Pride.
BY -" INVALID.

BY "INVALID"
A flash beguiled him, and he soon was lost"
Truth crushed to earth will rise again."
Th' eternal years of God are hers"
We are so frequently reminded by fear
full calamities and appalling crimes, of the
powerful influence and deplorable conse-
quences Of false pride, that the subject
cannot, as it seems to us, be too frequently
adverted to- All are more or less affected
by this error. The merchant in his prince
ly dwelling, the day laborer in his humble
abode, the mother who strives to rival and
excel her neighbors, and the daughter, in
imitation of her parent, who is only happy
In a social triumph over some conceited ac-
quaintance or inflated companion The
delusion of the great mass of the human
family, the infrmity, nay, the crime is,
that they live not for themselves, not III
conformity with a calm and reasonable
judgment, not in harmony with their re-
sources and expectations, but simply, or in
a great measure, to crafty an idle vanity,
and to make it appear to the outdoor
world, that they are more important than
they really are; that they are richer, are
more fashionable, that they enjoy higher
social position, or exercise greater influence
Look arou'sas you, gentle resaSer, and cyan
Inc closely and inquiringly, as well your
own case, as the follies and fallibilities and
infrmities of the members of the little cir
Gle in which you move and mingle. The
result will be as described in almost every
instance, False pride will be apparent
and in not few cases, individuals will be
found hurrying on rashly and recklessly t.
ruin, simply because they desire to ap
pear Of more Importance and in better pc
cuniary condition than they are, and tina
they lack the moral nerve to brave the cold
ness, the sneers and the contempt Of tn
world
Alas! how many homes have been mad
desolate-how many abodes of peace hav
been made miserable-how many fortune
have been wrecked-how many heart
have been broken-and how many crime
have been perpetrated, under the influenc
Of this fearful infatuation How often
too, do men cheat and deceive themselve
into the belief that they are engaged i
some benevolent work, some laudable ell
terprise, some patriotic undertaking, Wher
in fact and in reality, the whole is promp
ed by a weak and selfish object, and tb
motive power, instead Of being benevolenc
and patriotism, is simply the syren, subtl
and insidious spirit of false pride. Ho
frequently do we see individuals, active]
before the public, apparently eager for tt
welfare of their fellow-creatures, and read
to make any reasonable sacrifice to promo
" the greatest good of the greatest nun
ber," who nevertheless are known to
empty, conceited, selfish and heartless der
agogues, and who seek merely the graft
cation of an idle vanity, by the ACOUSTIC
of widespread notoriety. The real
meritorious, the truly benevolent, are tt
quiet, the modest, the retiring, but Il
generous in time of need, the ready al
the willing, as far as their means and the
ability extend, the kindly and the symI
thetic in all cases of distress and merito
GUS poverty.
Generally speaking, we fear the style
living in New York, in Philadelphia,
Boston, and in all other leading Atlan1
cities, and alas !! even the quiet circles
the hecountry, is by far too extravagant. I
l many live beyond, instead Of within th'
means. Too many live for the out-de
world, instead of the household circle
: home. Too many live for the vanities
5 life instead of the comforts and realities.
: Too many occupy palaces, comparativ,
: speaking, who would be far happier in c
u tages, and with far more independence.
i Too many live in spirit of imitation a
= rivalry, and with the object of emulati
- = or surprising their neighbors, who wo
le manifest more wisdom, more prudence, 3
3 more real sagacity, by simply attending
g their own real affairs in quiet way. &c
a omizing their resources, enjoying the
Or dinary comforts, and disregarding the EN-
!. vanities which cost so much and VIII
~ pay back so little. But, all this erro
=. - social policy proceeds from false prid
III III from that craving desire of the hun
IA IA heart to seem better, richer, and more
e9 fuential than we really are.
~ There is medium in all things.
ne decencies, the proprieties, the refneme
"a and the elegancies of life, should eve
VI cherished and inculcated. Whateve
i calculated at once to polish and to siren
sn' en- the character, to grace without wea