The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1868-06-25
For the Standard.
CLIMPSES In THE MIRROR GF EXPERIENCE.
BY FATHER BRoADBRIM.

For the Standard.
CLIMPSES In THE MIRROR GF EXPERIENCE.
By FATHER BRoADBRIM.
No. Q.
When we took our first view ofthe Mirror
of Experience, we marked decided want OF
calm reflection and moderation in the world
around us, and now, taking another glimpse,
we find when men mlngle gladly and JOY
fully in the society of those of their own
age and sex, they not unfrequentiy forget
the rules of modesty and become so enrap-
tured with the excitement of the hour, that
they are apt to lose sight of this sweetest
adomment of human character.
Sometimes the Mirror of Experience re-
fleets men to great disadvantage, ana they
are seen presuming too much upon their own
wisdom, or priding themselves too highly
on their own requirements. But this true
view of their defects very often produces a
beneficial and salutary effect. Then it is
that they learn to be modest by full view
of their ignorance, and begin to experience
the fact, that to be esteemed in the judg-
ment of others, they must first cast on the
folly of being accomplished or entertaining
alone in their oso1a cOnceat. Now, we nave
seen many striking likenesses of this picture
For instance, there was poor Brother Pell,
with whom we went to school in our boy
ceit, and the schOolmasters birch so failed to
lick it out of him, that he has grown old in
a want of modesty and is always trying to
force his religious views and political opin-
ions on the public. 1t is a great pity we
should have so many wiseacres in our midst,
but alas the crop will never be deficient
while he sits in the editorial chair. Some of
our other great ca Conservative friends who
figured largely in our last State election
would do we'll to cultivate modesty of de-
pertinent by glancing at their deformitles In
the Mirror of Experience, so faithful to the
representation of their bad designs. What
a sight of them would roll up before their
gaze
1t has been remarked by one of old, that
a plain garment best adorns a beautiful wo-
man." and we may add that decent beha-
vior and modest estimation of their own
virtues are among the greatest ornaments of
the characters of great men. The country is
sadly mourning over the depravity, bare
faced impudence and Odious vulgarity of
some of her chosen sons. In fact, so noto-
rious for conspicuous corruption have many
of our great (O men become, that to be great
now-a-d days is to be damned. The members
of the whisky ring and its head in the
White House will surely very soon become
great a. if they are not already so. But
alas! all greatness must fade as doth the
flower" and ere, another spring and sum
mer shall scatter roses over our fair land,
Grant will be in the honored place of the
nation. Then there will he cleaning out
of " the whisky ring and knocking out of
the dirty, corrupt and staggering bloats."
It will Be dark day for those bummers "
when Grant gets safely fixed in the White
House. He is going there. No set of men
can keep him out, and more than all, his
modesty of department will 60 far to place
him in the fame-hallowed chair, so nobly
filled by the lanented Lincoln. 1t is a re-
markable fact that those modest, simple
words of Grant, Let US have Peace" have
won all hearts, How, unlike the ostenta-
tious words and high sounding sentiments
of the man, '"who is wise in his own con
ceit!" Words like these of our great Grant,
give lustreto truth, for nothing enlists our
affections so beautifully, as the plain, un-
vanished language of the man, whom we
may look upon as being truly covered with
the mantle.of becoming mOdesty. Depend
upon it. a man like Grant will be more in
clined to consult the wishes of the people,
and weigh the counsels of his friends, than
to act always upon his own WILL or take the
lead interruption as " the my policy man "
has wickedly done.
Instead of thinking himself great, or wise,
or grand, we find that the Mirror of Expe-
rience shows Grant in totally different
train of selfopinion. When other men are
sounding their praises and holding up the
pictures of their own projections, like
Brother Pell does) we see Grant turning his
ears against applause, and only occupying
tie place of manly, modest dignity. With
such modesty as his, the lpurest virtue shine
with brighter light and the man who pos
sesses it is more respected even in the shades
of retirement, than the fool, who openly
displays the hideousness of his attain
ments before every assembly ne may chance
to engage. The vain and the arrogant man,
however, loves to court the admiration
and observation of the vulgar, as well as the
notice of the refined; the former he gets
lavishly,-the latter sparely. For instance
see the man who is wise in his own con-
cert swinging round the circle and making
all sorts of silly orations before crowds of
the rabble,-Grunk with sense of the fit
ness of the occasion fer a grand torrent of
abuse against Congress, the Union and its
Heroes
The judgment of tberpublic is always on
the side of modesty, for she never despises
the opinions of thoseshe meets; she is new
er pulled up with the vanity of her imagi
nation; her delight is to speak all the day
long not of herself, but of those whom she
delights to honor. How pleasant the face
of such a cou1panion! How clearly and
beautifully do we recognize it in the letter,
which Grant wroteto Sherman. showing the
magnitude and importance of the latter's
military services to his country 1t is truly
gratifying too to know, that the Republican
heart of the United States has judged Grant
arght, and having looked with true and
unfaltering gsoe into the Mirror of Expert
ence, the aoise men of the Union have conclu-
ded that Grant is the aoisest of them all and
the only man in America fit to be Presi-
dent.
Having shewn that Modesty may move
gracefully down the tide of the greatest life,
will conclude, by inviting all your readers
to remember Brother Pell in their prayers.
He may improve little, If he will make an
effort in the right direction.
Yours in all sincerity,
FATHER BROADBRIM.
A few weeks SINCE says the Norfolk TSr-
Oinjnn the trustees Of William, opd Morr