The Trinity journal., 1856-01-26
VAIN PEOPLE.

Vanity is more or less decided with all
men. There is scarcely any one that is
proof against its encroachments; it is, per-
haps, of all sentiments, that which increases
most readily and which produces the great
est annoysnces in its hsbitusl relations. 1t
is easily excited by success and praise
Nothing IL more dangerous than flattery; it
accustoms weak people to receive without
challenge, and units them for the admission
of truth Vanity is particularly insupport-
able in commonplace people-non-entties;
and it is even weaFisome and implies some
thing insulting and dissgreeable in man of
merit. When this sentiment or passion has
been unduly excited OF an early age, its irri-
liability becomes excessive; it actually be-
comes as consuming FIRE to those it torments,
at the slightest want of success, and may
even seriously affect the health
In no portion Of society is vanity more
keen and more ticklish than among the gen
tlemen of the quill, musicians, poets, actors,
actresses and dancers, and, in general, all
persons who are accustomed to receive msrks
of appreciation. Vanity, in fact, is not con
fined to simple internal complacency; it
requires stage, sn audience, external ac-
tion, an apprecisting public. Self-love, as
some writer has very judiciously remarked,
has produced the greatest number of petty
qualities and petty defects, and commonly
strives less for glory than for notoriety.
Vanity always csims little share in all
the words and actions Of poor human nature
"We strive in vain, said Madame du Chste-
let; vanity is always the motve-more or
less concealed-ef our conduct 1t is the
wind which fills the sails, without which the
vessel would not move"
Hence We see that vanity must have its
good and its evil side-its good and ill re-
suits The common defect of all periods of
life, it is especially apparent in youth
Nothing is more chsngeable--it is the Pro-
teus of the fable. Sometimes it is intoxica-
ted with self satisfaction, and Graded in a
plenitude OF ideal enjoyments, again it thinks
itself wounded, grows sad, irritable and
changes to fury; for as some poet has re-
marked,
"Offeuded vanity will ne'er forgive"
Sometimes it openly displays itself; oftener
it conceals itself as if seeking mask from
all intrusive eyes; but the veil in which it
shrouds itself is not difficult to pierce.
Socrates, having remarked that Ants
themes, his disciple, affected negligence on his
exterior, and carried his contempt of appear
ances to a ridiculous excess, said to him,
"Antsthenes, | perceive your vanity through
the holes of your cloak"
Charles X. took great pleasure in the
conversation Of William Postel whom he
styled his philosopher. THIS prince, having
received letters from the king of Ormus,
handed them to Postel to be translated. He
interpreted them before the whole court and
then, proud of the knowledge of which he
had given a proof, "Sire," said he, ina tone
not dictated by modesty' IL could go with
out an interpreter from your kingdom to
China. The languages of all nations are as
familiar to me as truth" Observe that this
modest doctor, after having for long time
written as visionary, ended by being as
much of maniac in his actions as he was
extravagant in his writing. But why preach
against vanity? Doth not the preacher tell
us that "all is vanity?" And did not
Thackeray write "Vanity Fair" in vain?-
And were we to prolong our sermon, We
should be justly chargeable with the very de-
tect we have been censuring.