The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-08-28
u K a $ S .

BIshss.
We nrc chnrgcd 10y an inspired writer not
think more highly or ourselves thu wo ought
think. AL OF us can 500 the propricly OF this eau
ttoh II tho need of it IL not apparent in our owl
ease, We arc acquainted with not n fuw who woul
do well TO take heed to il. But, perchance, W
may stand M greatly IN need Of it M omr reiyi,
boIs, and yet bu blind to tho fnct II lis uncon,
mon Tor ns to set too low estimate on our worth
| ltiS very common for us 10 ratio our worth To-
high. For one man who feels and acknowledge,
hc is thought too highly of, there nro n hundre,
who are settled in the belief that they arc moi an
prccntcil.
Wo lato aud abllOr vices That wo practice. Tba
! IL strange; hut il is moi moro strange than IA,
admiration We really feel for virtues whose limo,
hcn"ty and Swoc.nosE arc ignorant Of Modesty
hho other excellent things, s worry ofton cxtolled
| anu put OH by mon whose confidence in them
selves reaches tho dcgroc Of assurance. Modest,
IL gold assurance is brass. Yet wo vonturc the
ASSERTION that tho base coin procurcs moro rcputa.
tion-snch aH il is-than tho fine gold. But they
who avail themselves Of Tho virtue lodged in tho
brass nrc always crafty enough to try to beguic
their dupes by making them receive it for gold.
IL ~ curious to noto how many thoy deceive
lhere are some, however, who uro not imposed
upon by Tho spcciouB seeming. But if thoy hayo
penetration enough to discern tho quality of tho
metai. IL is not always safe for them to let the
duned have the benefit of their sagacity. Tho al
miration felt for the dealers in brass ia so general
nn so intense that ono il in danger OF being nc
cIaed OF possessing and using tho article himself
if he dare he no impru,lent as to try to opcn tho
eyes OF tho deceived. Such au uttompt is regard
oil AZ charging them with ignorance and folly. It
is accordingly resented as an affront, aud hc who
would do the service receives scorn and abuse as
his reward.
Tho traffic III brass is far from being monopoly
IL III used with craft and succcss by evorv calling
and occupation. Tho mrmbers of the bar aro
commonly supposed to 'possess nn uncommorly
large quantity of the profitable article. But in
our Judgment, that learned profession docs not
make nearly 80 efficient use of il M they who
practice tho healing art. If wo iaku rs true all
that medical men tell concerning tho cxtcnt of
Their practice, and the they perform wo aro
obliged to believe that they work miracles. not
only ON their patients, but also on themselves for
mortal strength and toughncss arc no, equal 10
The physical labor. They would hayo us believe
'hcy undergo, and their cures Involve the posseg-
sion Of supernatural wisdom and power. Nor is
The pulpit free from the odium of dealing
in this unworthy thing. II is wonderful
li"w extensive n reputation somo preachers ac-
qnlre, what numbers thoy draw after thom BY tho
aid of n pleasing manner, musical voico, well
ihodulaied, graceful gestures, and a fine counto-
nance Those endowments, used with art stand
III tho stead OF parts and knowledge. They pos
Hess hut ordinary talents and small stock of the
"logiral attainmcns. Their literary acanrrmon nts
nrc barely rnur"-t"., tsiI s-iiuiarsnIp deficient;
and yet by tho dexterous OF voice. mnnner md
eye, thoy are enabled To pass for men of elDqucnco
and cruliton.
II one looks only at tho present, if hc il anxious
only to rcroIvn Immediate remuneration, il would
DC wise to choose commonplace mental cndow-
merta with unboundcd assurance, in preference 10
superior parts with culture aud learning if those
high gifls accompanied with mOdcsty The
former pays better than the latter. Tho latter
may have its reward hereafter, but that hereafter
is distant. The former receives large gains, and
that Immediately. II hrass passes for gold, il ia
the same as il it were gold. Thcro some, not
witlhianding, who are far-sightcd enough to coyct
tho best giflp even though consciousness OF their
possession is their only reward There aro also
some with vision clear enough to distinguish gold
from brass, though they are aware they havo no
gold.
tn bnok recently published in London, "yiows
AMI Opinions" by MATTHEW BROWNE, there is an
essay "On Forming Opinions of Books" from
which We take tho following extract brought to US
in the last number OF tho Round Table Tho ro-
marks arc Of interest, and although only lateraIy
cngnato To our subject, think thoy will not bo
considered ont of place. 1t is because tho market
is gluttcd with brass that there ia little dcmnnd
for gold MIR. BnowNE says:
1T is fact that tho general reception of books
IL like tho general reception of n play; in other
words what is best falls flat what is bad or, at
all events lar short OF best, il received with ap-
plausc. Nobody will deny that it ls invariably tie
worst md the most thrcadbare jokos which are
most generally taken up at play. II is the samo
with books mans best must bc greatly nllOyed
or it is not accepted by the majority Of readers.
This is no strictly true that persons who have to
write for certain publics know perfectly well their
crc and act upon it, unless they can afford to dis
regard money-profit. And tho cue is this writo
for intelligent people, but always wIite what used
to interest You several years ago. In other Words
treat your audience Us il thoy wero ten years your
juniors Then, again, tho highest qualities OF all
Kinds OF nrt, those which yield tho most enduring
ceptlon, upon tho proportionnto development Of
parts wifi strict reference to certain general
effect. The best humor and tho best pathos aro
precisely OF this kind, and 40 OF other qualities.
Now tho characteristic Of quito average minds Is
that they do not caro- for pormanonco Of OBJECT, and
will not cannot, lot lib say, dwell patiently upon
works of Rrt till tho deeper fountain, Of enjoyment
wake up for them. They fecl the first attraction,
| they think that is ALL and then they arc of to
| something now. That is their idea of reading.
Hence, il may DO truly said not only tat nnty IL
thrown away upon thom, but TINT il B positive Of
| fence and stumbling-block."