The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-11-26

one IS turned to us, that the other still
remains. and may be shown by passing
flaw. Much as we are inclined to laugh
at the vanity of others, it is very serious,
entitled to all due respect, in ourselves.
In our own case we usually give it new
name, in order to hide the thing from it.
self. To satirize it is beneficial, for
satire corrects and regulates it. To de-
stroy 1t, were its destruction possible,
would be madness.
Vanity is really weakness only through
excess, and by over-liberal manifesto
ton: Seeing it in our associates, study
ing its peculiarities, watching its conse-
quences, we should learn its proper
modification and control. We should
not confound it with pride, for which it
is constantly mistaken. Comparatively
few persons have pride, although no one
is willing to own its absence. The dis
tlnction between the two might be shad-
owed by the declaration that, while all
men have vanity, scarcely anybody 10
disposed to admit the fact; and, as re.
spects pride, the whole world boasts of
its possession, though not one in ten
thousand can justly lay claim to it. q
Distrust him who PIRATES of his pride
Its haver is slow to speak of it; would
rather deny than affirm it: is annoyed
when it is mentioned, and indignant if it
be discussed. Pride is sensitive, Sc
cretive, shrinking in its audacity,
defiant in its sensibility, full of antago.
nisms, a blending of contradictions, and
yet all pointing to an exacting though
generous egotism. The talker of his
pride is vain, and vain only He lays
bare without provocation what the proud
man would not allow to be wrung from
him. Pride cannot say II am proud
without terrible struggle, without a
violent wrench. But vanity can proclaim
itself proud as Prometheus in every key
between a whisper and a melodramatic
roar. 1t sacrifices nothing by the proc.
lamation, loses no prospective advantage
since its utterance is nothing, and its
pretended confession balderdash.
Pride may become vanity by parading
the very parade either destroying the
original elements or diluting it to inferi.
ority. Pride is often negative, passive
preventing US from course we may be
strongly inclined to. Vanity is usually
positive, active; driving at whatever i,
wants, reckless of tineness or fitness
Vanity being passion, restless, clam
orous, compelling, Unsuitable, but, al
the same time, spontaneous, amia
Bile, sympathetic, sustaining, preserva
tive, it should be closely guarded and
deity managed, that it may produce
only desirable results. Vanity, with
proper misunderstanding and self-dis
cipline, is a graceful attribute, and sc
entirely natural that VIC freely forgive i,
for the sake of being forgiven. We
think we hate it in others; but the
reason is, that we commonly find it in
excess. Sufficiently toned down, OF
artistically concealed on ordinary occa
sions, we are little tempted to quarrel
with 1t. On the contrary, we enjoy it
for we arc sure of yielding it companion
ship, and splicing it with our own.
Could a man, free from the fair failing
be discovered, how could we reach him
how could he reach us? He would be
obliged to remain solitary. We could
not endure him; for he would force us tc
hate ourselves, and misantosy is so rare
virtue that it has as yet escaped the
| lexicons.
Human life, save in barbarism, is com
posed of mutual forbearance and tolera
| ton, of resignation to being bored 70,
the pleasure of boring in our turn. We
must compromise with our vanity, in be-
half of the vanity of others. Instead OF
telling Unfortunately what fine fellows
we are, we must possess our souls il
patience, and listen sometimes to the
epics of our alien egotism.-Juniu,
Henri Broscne, in Appleton's Journal.