Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-11-16

Nix. EprroR: Among the various troubles of bash
full men, not the least is the misconStrction of mo
tives and feelings often attributed to them by thu
world. An illustration of this has lately met my
eve in well written article in the New York Ledger
by Anna Cora Richie; in which article the accom-
plished authoress endeavorS to draw broad dstinc
tion between 6aslfulness and modestv. The former
is attributed TO rride selfconsciousness over-scns
tiveness, and the latter regarded as a charming
virtue. But after all she has written. fail to sec
any distinction and believe still with Webster the
great Lexicographcr that bashfulness is excessive
modesty.
The two words d, not define two distinct charac.
erStics, but they simply express different degrees
of the same thing.
Difidencc, modesty and hashfulncSs may all be
used to convey the same meaning; and it is not the
molesty. difidcncc or hashfuness of the that
fixes his character, but the motive from which it
results.
l acknowledge that there are two kinds of diff.
dence and it requires hut little experience of char
acter to enable to judge of their springs or
causes.
There are persons Of great fgotism, or egoism
rather. of overwecning love of self who deficient
in seossession. and such persons always alarm
ed when called on to address the public and are
often much embarrassed in private conversation.
Bnt in such cases none but the most superficial
observers would mistake the true character of the
persons concerned for however timid and backward
they may be in expressing themselves, they plainly
indicate, in ali their manners and actions their high
opinion of themselves, while they manifest CORES
ponding disposition to drtract from the merits of
Others.
There are other instances of bashfnlness from a
moderate estimate of self ard high regard for
others; and these causes of tlitv are easily seen
and understood by those who have the least knowl-
edge of character. The former kind of baShful per-
sons deal much in the personal pronoun ARE fond
of exhibiting themselves on all occasion>--hardlv
ever speak well of Others and seem to have no power
to think of or admire any thing in the world but
themselves. They have no veneration-they are
selfish and ficklc-and they cannot be relied on as
lovers friends or patriots, as they recognize cause
so sacred as their personal display comfort and
promotion.
On the other hand the latter class of baShfu men
are sefsacrihcing magnanimous and generous
Their modestv is the result of disposition to deprc-
cate themselves. and this account they are ever
inclined to do full Justice to Others and thinking
much Of the merits the claims and the characters of
Others, they are sincere and constant in their acc-
tions appreciate great causes and are often ready to
sacrifice their lives and fortunes for principle with
out the hope or desire for fame or admiration.
Now both these classes are often bashtul, but while
great actions and great call ont the energies
OF the one class, who forget their timdy in their
generous devotion to the interests of Others and to
the public welfare, the other in such trials of man.
hood become more timid and uncertain from the
fact that they in great doubt as to what NAV he
theirpcrsona or selfish interests in such emergencies
These two classes of persons are as far apart as
generosity and selfshness, love and hatred and with
all possible respect Tor Anna Cora Richie it seems
to me at least mere chds play to undertake to de-
fine their relative characters by two words which
often mean the same thing and which, in their most
critical sense, only express different degrees of one
characteristic. 1t is unjust to say that one is modest
and one bashul-for if it is to be understood that
snshfulness defines the unworthy disposition above
referred to- then it will often happen that the best
men will be condemned bya mere name The most
noble man or woman may, from the feelings already
described, be backward as to acquire the eptlet
of 6axhtul-and then, forsootb, when YOUR Miss
Ritches hear that the person is 50 called they cas
sfy him her with the most despicable of our race
simply for the sake of their own pet nomenclature.
Deliver me from such methods of Judgment; and be-
tore condemn or approve let me have not names.
but things, not the fanciful classfcalions of poets
but the secret springs and motives of action the
reason obvious in all his ways mhy an individual is
modest or backward, and not the mere fact that he
is called bashful. C..