The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1871-08-25
VOLUME L.

Ing scenes oliCc MAbhSa7Ou III al AiAhA1A
country, where a new town had sprung
up like a mushroom in a night. Almost
daily my merriment was excited by see
ing one or two young ''braves" strutting
about the streets, their lordly brows
crowned with wreaths of artificial flow
ers, lady's parasol in one hand, and a
small hand-mirror in the otherI When
a buffalo robe composed the toga of
these noble chiefs, the effect was ire
sistably comic. But their admiration of
themselves was supreme, as one could
tell by the frequent references to the
hand glasses.
One day was sitting with open door,
leading i'm silent absorption some inter-
esting book, when l was startled out Of
my composure by hearing a very slight
stir just behind me. Glancing around
i'm alarm, for l had believed myself to
be alone, beheld a tall Omaha "war-
rior'' posturing before the parlor mirror,
and evidently delighted with the effect
of wreath of pink roses around his
head. Amusing as the spectacle was,
bad been so shocked by the discovery,
that ! cried out pOck-d-choc, with much
sternness; and saw my light-footed Wis
itor depart, carrying upon his bronZed
features the most affected smirk conceiv-
able So fond of finery were those dig
nified s1orls of creation that it was
their practice to place the principal part
of the money paid them by the L. S.
Agent in the hands of their squaws for
safe-keeping, lest they should have moth
ing left for the purchase of more neces-
sary articles.
Looking-glasses are supposed to imply
personal vanity; and that man or wOm-
an who most often consults one is sure
to be stigmatized as "vain." This view
of the subject is no doubt a.prejudiced
one. 1t is quite as often the timId and
doubtful person who refers to his or her
mirror for an opinion, as the fop or the
eoquette. The mirror comes nearer than
anything else, perhaps, to furnishing
that "giftie" which Robert Burns prayed
for,-''to see oursels as ithers see u.s."
and no doubt does from "many blunder
free US, an foolish notion" If we have
been particular to select a true one for
our private chamber, we need not go
into society ignorant of our defects, or
unconscious of our excellencies of ap-
pearance.
And this brings us to the moral side
of our subject. How are we to be sup
piled with moral and intellectual look
ing-glasses? If we seek for them in the
opinions of our associates We shall find
our images most often distOrted-occa-
sionally fiattered-as we sometimes say
real looIing-glass flatters our faces.
When choosing mirror for our toilet
we take one that neither makes US long,
nor broad, nor green-visaged, MOI
crooked, but one that simply shows Us
up with clearness, altering nothing that
we have reason to know of our appear
ance, we judge we have selected the
best; so when among our friends we find
one who neither depreciates nor flatters,
but accepts US for what we are conscious
of being, making no effort to deceive oI
disparage US, we feel that we have dis.
covered a safe moral mirror.
1t is not the province Of mirror {,
improve anybody. Its whole duty is t.
show us where we may improve our
selves. If we consult the opinions q
our true friends we have this opportuni
ty of finding out where we need improy
ing, and what our excellencies are. An
it is quite as needful to know the latte
as the former. |, for one, never had an
patience with that class of moralist
who think it necessary to hide from pee
pie the fact that they possess charmin
or excellent qualities. They are tn
crooked mirrors, and the sight of on
makes me sick. Just as the bashfI
person would be teetOtally discourage
by the sight of his image i'm distOrtin
mirror, so the man or woman lacking /
self-esteem, and never being told of an
meritoriOus qualities, would be certai
TO fancy the opposite. These conviction
are often enough the result of some III
kind or thoughtless reticence in tho,
whose opinions are most valued by u
The harm they do cannot be estimate
by the amount of suffering to the ind
/. vidual; it is best estimated by the col
sideration of the power it has to suppre
hopeful effort.
The fear of encouraging vanity in OF
ers is mean fear. Vanity does far lie
> real injury in the world than silent d
traction. Vanity is above-bOard, and
patent as to be easily avoided viii
doubt and humility often wear the ga
of pride and defiance-which are Il
> wrinkles on the face of the mirror The
is no better polishing powder for o
moral mirrors than sweet charity.
price is above gold dust
need not say that even the best
moral looking-glasses need advent
tious aids-like having itself placed in
; favorable light. A little tact is We
good thing in every relation of lii
: Overpraise, like too powerful light
> the mirror, brings into derisive nOti
whatever defect there may be. a tr
= mirror in the house, and one in L
: heart, are, beyond cavil, very go
!, things to have. Put out the crooked on,
80 by all means.