Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-12-13
PRIDE AND FRANKN Ess.

Pride makes men endeavor to seem
better than they really arc. by assuming
an appearance of those virtues which
they want, and endeavoring to disguise
those vices which they cherish: Selfish
ness makes them wish to engross lar
ger share of esteem and regard than
is bestowed on others. But he who is
continually protesting sentiments
which he does not feel, will hardly be
able, on all occasions, to do it in such
manner as to avoid betraying himself.
Whatever degree of affection or es-i
TEEN is gained without being deserved
though, at first, it may be both paid and
received with pleasure-will probably,
after a time vanish into nothing, or
prove source of disappointment and
modification to both parties. Even
while the delusion lasts, it is scarcely
possible it should be attended with en-
tire satisfaction to the deceiter; for de-
ceit of all kinds, from the greatest to the
most trifiing instances of it, must be at
tended with degree of anxiety ,and can
never enjoy that perfect ease and secur-
ity which attend on those words and ac-
tions that are the natural, ,undisguised eX-
pressions of the sentiments of the heart.
But. as mankind are apt to run from one
extreme to another, we sometimes see
tildG IEOlH u uiStlhca W tutS IA tuCidl pO-
liteness, which is continually CLOSING
over faults, both in those who practise
it, and those they practice it upon, a
roughness and even brutality of man.
ner is adopted, and dignified with the
title of sincerity.
Some persons pique themselves upon
saying all they think, and are continu-
ally protesting to do SO. As a proof of
this, they will say things the most
shocking to Others, and give them pain,
without the least remorse. And all this
for fear of being suspected of fiattering
them! But is this, then, the language
of their hearts? Alas fit be so, let
them set about reforming it, and make
boast of exposing it to public view.
Pride may think to gain its own ends
by an appearance of ssngularity, and by
setting itself above the appreciation of
otheI S, as vanity does by condescending
to the meanest methods, 90 in order to OBJ
tain it. That sincerity which Is dis
played with ostentatiOn, is generally to
be suspected. The conduct which an
honest heart inspires flows naturally
from it; and those who say rough
things, in order to convince others of
their sincerity, give some reason SO
doubt of their being perfectly
ICOnV1ncGu Ot IL themselves. l1aSlE COIL
duct is pernicious to the peace and pleas
ure of society, aud may also lead to very
fatal consequences. They do what they
| cam TO frighten every one from what is
right. If SINCERITY then, discovers such
q. heart, disguise must appear desirable.
| Few consider sufficiently how much the
cause of virtue must suffer, whenever a
good quality is made to appear in an un-
! amiable light. -. -. ....
Sincerity is, indeed the ground work
| of all that is good and valuable. Hows
| ever beautiful in appearance the struc-
ture may be, if it stand not on this foun-
dation it cannot last. But sincerity can
hardly be called a virtue in itself
| though deviation from it is fault. A
man may be sincere in his vices, as well
as in his virtues. Now, he who throws
off all remorse or shame, and even makes
boast of his vices, can claim no merit
from the sincerity he expresses in SO do
ing. If he who is sincere cannot appear
amiable, his heart is wrong, and his sim
cerity, far from being virtue, seems
only to add to the rest of his fatllts, tina,
of being willing to give pain to others
4 and able to throw aside that shame
| which should attend on every fault
whether great or small, and which is
sometimes restraint to such as are in.
capable of being influenced by noblel
motives. l3 Il 4