Litchfield enquirer., 1860-04-12
For the Litchfeld Enquirer. COUNSELS TO YOUNG MEN.
NUMBER ELEVEN.

My next topic is SELF RESPECT. This k a very different thing from pride, or over weening selfestimation, with which it is oft en confounded. A man may be very proud, and yet have no proper selErespect Pride is miserable conceit of ones superi ority over others. It takes lofty airs upor itself, and looks down with contempt or pity upon the multitude
 True self respect arises from the conscious ness of possessing those qualities which we admire in others, and which deserve esteem AS nobody can respect low-minded, ill bred, clowEish loafer, neither can he respect himself, if he belongs to the same class He must first rise above it. True self respect in any one, consists in jespising and shun ming whatever is worthy of esteem and con. fdence. The drunkard always despises him self when he is sober, and can't help it. Sc it is with every one whose habits are grov cling and vicious. But just as soon as sucl man begins to reform, the emotion of sell respect springs up in his mind, and strength ems his good resolutions. He says to him self, "I know can be man again, and once more take rank with my equals, and l acW."
 When you sec young man fond of low company, and giving himself up to base in- duIgences, you say and say truly, that he has lost all self respect. You add, He might be an ornament and blessing to so- ciety but there he is in the gutter, de spised even by his reckless comrades, and kept down by the mortifying consciousness of self degradation. So on the other hand, when you see man, whether high or low, rich or poor, shrinking from everything grov- cling and dishonorable, demcaning himself properly in all the relations of life, and al- ways on bis guard against saying or doing any thing disrcputable, you say, That man is worthy of esteem and confidence" You can trust him for, he has character to maintain, and he will not forfeit it.
 In listening more than thirty years ago, to very animated and able debate upon the question of changing a County Seat in Connecticut, l was very much struck, by a single caution of the dignifed Chairman, and it's magical effect. As the parties waxed warm, and seemed to be on the point Of ovcr-stcpping the bounds of courtesy, promptly interposing, he simply said :-- Gentlemen will respect themselves" It was enough. They were gentlemen of the highest standing in the County, and they saw in a moment the danger into which the heat of debate was hurrying them. They had too mnch respect for their own clarac- ters, as wei! as for one another and the Chair, to iucur repetition of the caution. Gentlemen aeW respect themselves. Yes, true gentlemen always will. They will coll- sidcr what is becoming in them. what is worthy of them, and will demean themselves accordingly.
 This self respect may doubtless be car ried to an extreme. You have heard, per haps, of the Musseman who cherished it so profoundly, that whenever he had occasion to speak of himself, he first took off his tur- ban and bowed. l don't advise you, young gentlemen 10 go quite so far as that {: but after all, there was something besides the lndicrous ill this self reverence. Depend up- on it, that man, such as he was, would nev- CT be guilty of mean thing. He might strike off dozen heads with his scimetar but he could never stoop to meanness. Nor can you ever, if you perfectly respect your selves.
 TnE OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAINS.