Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-09-26

TIE PREIENDEK.-BY y. Is. JOHNSON.
Notwithstanding there are men who are as
pure and righteous as it is possible for the
imagination to paint them, and others as
vile and base as fancy can depict, man in
the aggregate is full Of pretension, and not
only deludes his fellows by his conduct, but
attempts to deceive his God, and presumpti-
ously strives to make the Power which marks
his fate bend to the futile designs of his self
love. lie is, too, constantly deceiving him
self or endeavOring to deceive others, and
whether in prosperity or in adversely he is
the victim Of the same feeling which indu-
ces him to appear to be what he is not. 1t
is thus that the PATHFINDER becomes n mis-
representation Of what nature intended him
IA be; and indicates desire only to counter
felt those attributes which the customs of
mankind and the teachings Of virtue have
placed in an estimable position. fall were
equally wise and virtuous, there would be
no human standard of goodness, and if all
were equally wicked and vicious, the com
parison between vice and virtue would cease,
and i'm either case there would be no room
for affectation: but it is different; and 1T Is
the absence of some excellence which leads
tue Pretender to assume those qualities
which are esteemed commendabie; Tor 50
strong is his disposition to affect, that were
Satan to produce lecture on christianity,
he would endorse it for the benefit which
he would derive from u show OF extreme
piety.
lie belongs to one of two classes-the in-
nccent or the vicious. IT to the former he
means no mischief whatever, and to have
others think him to be what he appears, is
the height Of his earthly felicity. This kind
is as numerous as it is ubiquitous; but the
members of this class do NO other harm than
Ia make themselves ridiculous in order to
cheat their neighbors of their opinions. IT
Ia the latter, he uses his pretension as the
Ant-eater does its tongue. that those whom
lie desires to victimize may be allured to
satisfy his selfish and vicious designs. This
class is comparatively small, and its MEM
beers make their appearance sporadicaiiy,
for as soon rs they become known they are
forced to seek new field.
A desire to possess those traits which are
admired in others has q potent tendency to
ehace the dictates of common sense, and to
infuse into weak minds an inclination to
grasp that which neither nature nor educa-
ton ever intended them to clam. Happily
for the world many are kept down 10y the
inferiority which they try to disguise, Tor
there is more pretensiou among men than II
casual observer imagines, and if We could
meet an individual aS perfect ~ some assume
to be, we would, indeed, have on earth more
than angels perfection.
The Pretender is seen in every sphere and
relation Of life, and eyinces his disposition IN
various tarcical ways-ln going into debt
and being dunned to death for the sake of
making an appearance. In paying courtly
honors to the vicious who occupy elevated
positions, and passing with Indifference tine
obscure though praiseworthy and honest.
In renting high-priced pew in fashlona-
BILE church and leaving the vestry to collect
the rent as best they can. In talking loud
ly of his famed and honored ancestors when
he is but the degenerate opposite Of all that
was worthy and good i'll his family. In
neylectins his less fashionable friends IN
order TO allow himself more time to play the
Hunky to those who are more stylish in their
habits. In treating with GOODNESS the efforts
of humble merit and taking for granted as
we'll done all that is performed by those who
nv the aid Of adveutitiuus circumstances oc-
cupy more prominent positions in society.
In using every device to call the public at
tention to his would-be meritorious SELF In
acting the leader of fashion and folly when
bankruptcy stands waiting at his door, &c.
Such are some of the characteristics of the
Pretender, and what is remarkable about
him is that he will SEQ himself caricatured
by the pencil of sarcasm-laugh heartily at
the picture-see his conduct burlesqued on
the stage, and continue to net the part in the
representation Of which the actor excites the
laughter and derison of his audience.
Ii we ask what was the origin and what
are the inherent claims of the man who thus
obtrudes himself upon the notice Of the
world, and who by his misguided ideas Of
life has lent his influence to prostitute socie-
ty, and instead of making it conservative,
sensible, and practical, has contributed to
render it soft, silly, and Improbable, we
find that he has been the victim Of mlsdi-
rected education and the recipient of tacti-
tious aid which he knows not how to appre-
ciate.
Toooften have honored parents have placed
him where they left Oft, and instead OF as
certaining whether his mental capacity fits
him for success in an intellectual pursuit,
they send him to fashionable school to be
confirmed in habits of idleness and folly, and
he returns from his books with ineffable
contempt for all those who honestly set
themselves to labor for theirow support and
advancement.
This is usually the origin of the Preten-
der, and thus is the world afflicted and soci-
ETY. made radically different from what it
should be. lie is not only the curse of the
social sphere, but of the religious and politi-
cal. Sometimes even in clerical garb he
mounts the pulpit, and delivers prosaic dia-
tribes; and in our state affairs he creeps into
every department, and like rank weed, en-
deavors to crowd out all those wholesome
plants which our forefathers spread broadcast,
in order that they might grow and fructlfy
for their children's good
Every parent should inculcate the impor-
lance Of having his children appear as they
really are and of looking with contempt upon
that ignorant pretension, mushroom elevation
and insolent puppyism which we so often see
and of recognizing as true men, none who
have not mind and character sufficient to make
their mark, independent of the uncertain ad-
yantases of wealth and association. vi all
nations ours is the least adapted to the lon
gevity of the Pretender. Here all are polit-
ically equal and the only difference that
does exist between man and man, is gene
4 II