Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-07-01
Misfellaaepns.
To BE ana To Appea ar.

1t is said that all the illHstrious men oi
Athens were once assem- bied TO witness
a great patriotic drama. On this occas-
ion an actor, speaking of one OF the
ancient heroes, repeated the words His
purpose is not to appear JUST but tos6e
SO, and as he spoke them, the eyes OF
the spectators turned simultaneously
upon Aristides, who, by his unassuming
excellence, had gained the name of ..tite
Just" and who alone, of the whole vast
audience, was unconscious that his in
ner nature had so eloquently spoken in
his outward life. 1t is not the semblance
of virtue, but virtue itself that should
shine out mans life.
Every one, in theory at least, detests
hypocricy. The man who Processes what
he does not believe, or keeps up q de-
ceitful appearance, making pretensions
to wealth, knowledge, friendship or
virtues, that he is conscious of not pos
sessing, is despised by all as soon as the
fraud is discovered. The large majority
of persons, alse, despise the same deceit
in themselves, and most of them would
scorn to do deliberately hypocritical
action. Yet few know the insidious ma
ture of hypocrisy, or how unconseiOusly
it creeps into the heart. The desire of
the approval of our fellow men is in It
self right, but like every other Virtue,
when carried to excess, or unbalanced by
virtues of IA similar character, it becomes
asvice, and unchecked will lead to deg
radiation and contempt. The child, i'll
the freshness of its young life, is chief
ly attractive BY its 4artlessnessEzEvery
word and gesture is at first q simple re-
fiex of what is within, expressed with
out a thought of how Others may esteem
it. Soon, however, the child learns to
distinguish between what is approved,
and what is disapproved, and naturally
desires the former. This is the oppor-
tune time for the influence of a wise
parent, who will llfeaeh the child 70 be
what be a@its 10 appear. Teos often
this lesson IS ifot' learned, and they 20
on, shaping their words and ACTIONS so
as to seem tosbe deserving ofstlfe appro-
val so much coveted, while their hidden
actions show them TO be undeserving.--
This form of hypacrisy exorts its infiu-
ence esoSnsidioQslys sthafsp pile eau lsnlys
diseoveE it bysib "a rigid analysis OF
motives, and it is SO widespread that
none are wholly free frepsy its powers
This It is that has introiueedS Sets of
manners and conduct for different oc-
casions aud professiens,E ratheE than
sentifneiits. often selflih,possdlfufas Of
etiquette and fashion lead people, to
sacrifice individual judgement, comfort
and taste, and the artificial distinctions
OF, society lake precedence ofthe eternaii
distinction between moral greatness and
littleness Wealth is deemed so meri-
torious that those who have it not ape
its exterior, to deceive others. iihe evils
of selfish anxiety as to the appearance
of what we are doing, injurieusly affects
all the affairs of life. Every energy Isl
requisite to execute werthiIy the duties
of life; but ifa large part oft is employ
ed in studying how best to appear to per-
form those duties, so much less remains
for their real execution. ~