East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1865-06-07


ton Of our own worth that is deadly
to all reciprocal emotions. The in
stinct of society repels the egotist and
all tacitly agree to leave him to the
enjoyment of his self-complacency.-
In their ewn sphere men are wise to
be self-reliant and self-competent.--
We honor this trust where it reveals
itself in earnest struggles, in bold
endeavors, in heroic deeds. But the
consciousness must not escape from
the action and utter itself in proud,
Iboastful words. q Neither countenance
nor manner must tell it. Individual
pretensions are never recognized in
society, if the claimants themselves
are the pleaders of their causes
society levels "a mans personality the
moment he sets it up for notice. 1t
can not tolerate the temper that pre-
sents a flaming placard in its face, and
rarely opens its mouth without issuing
q newspaper advertisement. The hu-
man heart is the most democratic
thing in the world, and it will meet
friends and foes on terms of perfect
equality. And hence there is great
room for wisdom inimanaging, just
here, our social relations. 1t is often
the part Of good sense to abate our
power, to conceal our accomplishments,
to say less than we might say, SO as
to induce others to say more. A we'll
bred man uses his endowments to
stimulate others, and finds ample op-
por.unity for the exercise of his rare
gifts in being tributary to the intelli-
gence of his company. Humility is
the browning grace of his mind and
manner. There is q charm in the
humility, because it is Difference to
yourself, and is not confeunded with
servility and fawning. Without sac
rifcing its dignity, it is full of the
beauty Of self-forgetfulness it loses
itself in you; and, by its efforts to
exalt your worth, it secures passage
for its own excellence to your heart.
Living with others demands the con-
slant use of practical wisdom in the
management Of our virtues and tai
snts. Indeed, our excellences require
quite as much prudence to control and
order them Alright as our defects In
firmities of character are not the only
barriers to social Intercourse, for a
mans best and strongest points are
often antagonists to franknsss and
cordiality Of fellowship. To be ones
self in solitude is easy; but to be ones
self in social relations--to preserve
the native truth and inborn strength
of our being in high and uncomprom-
ising integrity, and yet, avoiding the
frivolity of shallow natures, yield
ourselves to the occasions of life, and
pour forth the swelling tide of the
heart into the receptive souls of others,
calls for mastery of ourselves seldom
attained. II man has genuine
character--if he has soul born from
above, and whose sentiments and
words, like electric flashes, are emana-
tons from higher realm, then he
may afford to trust it for passport
into other souls. For such visitations
the immortal mind, longing and burn
ing with an intense thirst for compan-
ionship in its inward being, is always
in waiting. But let us remember that
the soul will execute its own offices.
1t loves, at times, to supersede all in
ferior service; to put a serene con-
tempt on all intellectual aids; to vail
its arts and accomplishments; and to
disclose itself in the original language
Of its divine birthplace. AT such
seasons we feel how the laws Of true
fellowship lie far down in the depths
Of our existence. We feel how the
real hearts Of the world beat to a
music whose scale was written in
heaven. We feel the impotence of
intellect, the nothingness of auxiliary
means, the supreme trihingness of
manners and the genuine souls of
men and women gather themselves
closely together and blend in the per-
fectness Of common brotherhood. =
But these rare intervals teach us the
spiritual code of humanity; they bid
us beware of too much reliance on
intellect, taste, and studied elegance.
For, after all, the gifts Of mind and
the adornments Of behavior, like vol
atile essences, can not bear much ex-
posure. The open air scatters and
wastes thom. But the voice of the
soul, speaking from its own hallowed
recess, is always sure of a hearing,
and, once heard, it is an angel-tone
that is never forgotten.---Harpr's
Monthly. ~