The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1858-04-21

| S0hNidiy dttcHodUL upon HiSfli II
engaging to the highest degree, and wins the
heart of all with whom we are acquainted
On the contrary, none arc more disgusting
in company, than the impudent and presu-
ming.
Those who mistake genlirs mcdes'y,
which Is easily done, are apt to encourage il,
themselves a bashful timidity or, at length
abandon that to become pert and impudent
| To prevent this, | would have YOU consider
that true mo3esty is the reflection OF an hon
orabie mind, constantly impressed with a
sen2e o. proprie:y, and always shows itself
in avoidinC what might occasion n,erited
ccrsIre. For this reason. modest man is
as much so when he IS alone, rs in company:
and as subject to blush in his closet, as when
the eyes of the mu,itudes are upon him.
This kind Of modesty, although opposed
to impudence, is perfectly consistent with q
proper assurance. One who is under its in
tiuence, may. Notwithstanding, perfectly
possesses himself, and say and do Indifferent
things without any uneasiness or emotion.
This open and assured behavior is the nat
ural consequence of a knowledge of the
world, and, above all, of fixed determina-
ton to do nothing inconsistent with decency
and honor.
Every man ought to cherish and encour-
man without it. is liable to be made uneasy
by the folly, impudence, or i'll nature, of
every person with whom he converses and
is lost to every sense of honor. You may be
modest, and at the same time, if you will,
assured as it is possible for the same person
to be both impudent and bashful. We have
frequent instances Of this latter odd kind Of
mixture, in people Of depraycd minds and
mean education who, though they are not
able to meet mans eye, or pronounce
sentence without conf'le;on, can voluntarily
commit the greatest villainies, Or most indie
cent actions. Such persons seem to have
made resolution to do evil ii spite of them
selves, and in defiance Of all those restraints
which have been thrown in their way by
their natural tempers and ac!inations.
There are no greater outlaws against good
breeding than those who voluntarily throw
off ,ie restraints Of modestv. and conscious
Of impulence, profess it, with an air of hu-
NOR, thinking to carry off one Of the most
inexcusabie faults by saying in g CAV tone,
:" ! put an impudcnt face upon the matter
no man should be allowed the advantages
Of impudence who knows he is imp1dent--
II he knows it, lie may as well be otherwise:
and he ought to blush, when he sees be
makes another redden; for nothing can
atone for the want Of modesty, without
which beauty is urliness and wit detestable.
But, while ! recommend modesty to your
earnest attention, you are not to forget that
there is a false modestv. which is more per-
nicious than impudence itself. One who
possesses It has not the forti'ude to resist
the will or wish Of another, although he Sc
crety disapproved of it. He acts to crafty
others rather than himself and is frequently
BETRAYED into the most abandoned practices
without single act Of his own viii. Study
to guard agains! this unmanly disposition,
more destructive Of peace, virtue aud honor,
than the greatest vice.
As nothing is more amiable than true
modesty. SO nothing is more contemplate
than false The former makes a man
to do anything that is repugnant to
the rules Of reason the latter makes him
ashamed to do anything that is opposite to
the humor Of his company not only so, but
it often restrains him from doing what is lust
and laudable. How despicable you mast
appear in the eyes Of all men of worth, and
even in your own, if you give way to this
ridiculous habit Instead of that firmness
which commands respect, you must descend
to that cringing manner, which every one
may find Convenient, but no one can treat in
any other way than with contempt.
Under the notion of modesty, you must
not indulge yourself in spiritless sheepish-
ness. In this way, many have been lost TO
themselves, their families, tneir friends, and
their country. When a man has taken care
to pretend to nothing but what hc can Justly
aim at, and can, without injustice to any |!
other, execute as well as Others, it is even !
want of breeding or courage to be brow
beaten or elbowed ont Of his honest ambition.
Modesty must be an act Of the WILL and, if !
a man. after having fixed on anything lau- I
dable, from an unmanly bashfulness, shrinks
away, he ought not to be angry that another
succeeds, and that the world approves. I
Modesty widely differs from an awkward
bashfulness, which is as much to be con-
demned as the other is to De applauded. To
appear simple is as ill-bred as to be impu-
dent. A young man ought to be able to
come into a room and address the company
without the least embarrassment.
A gentleman who is acquainted with life
enters room with gracefulness and nod
est assurance, addresses even persons he does
not know, in an easy and natural manner,
and without the least embarrassment. This
is the characteristic of good breeding, very
necessary knowled ge in our intercourse with
men for one of inferior parts, with the be-
haviour of gentleman, is frequently better
received than a man of sense, with the ad-