The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1872-02-15
NUMBER z.
Putting on Airs.


She was very beautifully dressed
She held a little parasol with her
thumb and two fore fingers, while
her least finger and the next to it
we're held as far Off as possible from
the handle and crooked. Her little
head was moved from side to side,
and her mincing walk flung her sash
to and fro behind, rs she went up
the Hill. The little darling was
putting on airs" In her it was
sweet, and what hei mother would
have called cunning" She was
pretty little parody on big simple
tons. That was all. One could not
see her "airs" without a smile of
amusement because, she knew no bet
ter; but when great fasseld dowa-
ger came along and tried to be dain
ty with her sunslade, which was
smaller than the little bellies, and
attempted a mincing gait. which re
suited in a dislocated wsddle, she
could only be beheld with a smile Of
contempt or derisjon. She was
putting on airs" and ought to have
known better.
Putting on airs" is the assump-
tion of manners inc9ngruous to ones
character or position, The reason
able thing for a man to do is TO cul-
tivate his character as thoroughly as
possible and let it produce its own
manners, as a living tree produces
its leaves. The assumption Of what
does not belong to us is a fraud in
the community. Such cheats and
shams are all those who are eput
ting on airs"
There is the airs fwisdom, WHICH
many people do greatly affect. The
old carricature, if carricature it may
be called, of the potentious physician
was the great gold headed cane,
held up against the side Of the nose.
while one eye was closed, and the
other was turnel up in deep thought,
when all the time the old humbug
knew that he was going to admins
ter calomel and ialap whatever the
case OF the patient might be.
"a still tongue makes a wise
head,' is a FOOLS saw that has led to
much putting on airs" Men say
nothing, are solemnly silent, look
unutterable things, or shrug their
shoulders as ifthcy add to their vast
store of knowledge, the direction Of
being very careful of what they said
and to whom they said it, and when
and where, and how. These peo-
pie put on the "airs' Of wisdom &
bind, lcok just as wise as Minerva
owl, say as little, and have as little
sense. The biggest fool l ever saw
looked wiser than the Lord ever in
tended any man to be.
But in our day there is much put
ting on of the "air" ofignorance and
innocence. This Bret Harte has ear
ricatured in that Heather Chince
who was 50 "child-like and bland,
and sat down to take little game
che did not of course understand
but who did the business for truth
full James and his friend VIM. Nye
Beware Of innocent people. Beware
of them whose diet is mothers milk
These babies of grace will prove
too many for you, if you let theil
'airs" deceive you. Smoothly sha
ven old politicians, with faces like
those of oyergrown boys, blundcr
ingly honest, not caring for appear
ance enough to put their clothes OF
decently-dear bucolic old gentle
men, they can show you a trick
worth two Of any the Professed gam
bIers in politics can exhibit.
The greatest scoundrel you evel
knew could not comprehend the
meaning of the sins you charged
him with on discovery, and looked
racantly innocent while you reviled
him. Is this not so?
What folly is this putting on o.
airsw a young preacher under
takes to carry out the style OF tho
Archbishop Of Canterbury; a man o.
business walks around his store con.
descendingly pointing out to hi.
customers what goods he has, with
a slight rattan held in a kid-gloved
hand; a girl at Long Branch or the
Springs behaves like member oil
some Knickcrbocber family, when
everybody knows that her grandfa.
ther drove a dray and her grand
mother retailed gingerbread; a
youth who was raised on pork and
beans, or bacon and greens, in q
country cabin whcfe floors never
saw carpet make more trouble at
a hotel table OF boatding-house than
a travelling nobleman! what fascina-
ting tricks arc thescl
Ny friend, If people do not sec
thee, "why put on airsr' II they do
see thee, dost thou know that they
see through thee? TheR Why be
putting on airsY' Put Of airs aad
put on honesty-and be natural
AHfumR LegE
A bashful youth vas paying his