The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-03-12
Sclf..Acquaintanee.

that, however much he may misunderstood
his neighbors, he has at least fair knowl-
edge and appreciation of his own character.
He may mistake the motives of Others and
misnterpret their actions (their heart-secrets
being hidden from hisE but how can his
judgment err concerning one whose every
emotion, thought, impulse ane motive lies
open to his inspection, as do his own? Yet
there is hardly anything in which there is
greater liability to error than in this very
matter of self acquaintance. While, on the
one hand, there seem to be the best oppor-
tunities for correct estimate, on the other,
there are special hindrances which prevent
it; while, at the first glance, all the govern
ing principles of our own characters seem
spread before us in the clearest light of day,
a closer view reveals an interesting mist that
greatly obscures the reality, or presents it in
colors far different from its own.
| 1t will readily be seen that this mist which
hides us from our own inspection is self-par-
tiality. 1t may safely be asserted that we
never reason and Judge in eractiy the same
manner upon matters in which we are the
chief actors as we do in other cases. There
is an absence of that distrust and suspicion
as to our own conduct, which is so manifest
when we analyze that of another; dsposi-
ton to take for granted that our motives and
intentions are about right, which we rarely
exhibit concerning those of our neighbors.
Selt-iDterest and sef-love often blind lis in
regard to our own characters, or rather, by
keeping our mental vision fixed steadily on
one point, they prevent us from seeing any
other. Thus we frequently defend in our
own conduct the very same things which we
ccnsure severely in another's, and this not
from any wanton injustice, but because this
veil of sef-partiality hides from us in the
one case what is obvious enough in the
other when the veil is removed
Much of the unreasonable behaviour of
men and women towards each other, and
many Of their disputes and quarrels, result
| from this very disposition to palliate their
own errors and faults and exaggerate their
own virtues. Nothing more surely paves
the way to injustice and oppression of all
kinds, or more effectually crushes the nat
ural impulses of compassion and sympathy.
Social intercourse can rarely be reduced to
| fixed rules-it must depend for its well-being
| upon mutual goodwill and forbearance.
| Yet in its every detail there is right to be
| carried out and wrong to be avoided. JUS
tice, compassion, lberality, truth, friendli-
ness are one side; coldness, arrogance, self
ishness and oppression on the other. Yet
their limits cannot be defined by statutes,
each one must settle them for himself, and
with this latitude comes the danger of self
deception. In reviewing our own relations
with another, how many excuses we frame
for seeming neglect of duty-how artfully
we place and replace the circumstances so as
to persuade ourselves that we were not in
fault, and how well satisfied we are when
such efforts are crowned with self-compla-
cency! Yet, after all, there il usually left
behind a lurking suspicion that all is not
right, and desire to hurry over and cast
into oblivion much that would otherwise
cause uneasy pricks of conscience. Just as
man who, by extravaganza or neglect is
rapidly running through his means, shrinks
from thorough examination of his affairs,
fearing to face the ruin which it might re-
veal, and pleads ignorance of his real con-
dition to extenuate his continued prodigality;
so, many persons on surveying their own
conduct, even with all the excuses and palli-
atives that self-lOve can suggest, find so
much to create dissatisfaction that they
hastily turn from the record and cease the
search, lest on looking deeper they should
fatally wound their selfesteem. Never was
there more pernicious mistake. Instead
of gaining any real satisfaction by thus
closing their eyes to facts, they really heap
up cause for future remorse and unhappi-
ness. There is no solid, sincere self-enjoy-
ment that doe, not have its basis in truth
ful acquaintance with self in all its phases
The cowardice that shrinks from this knowl-
edge will ever be prey to suspicion and
fear, but the STRAIGHTFORWARD and fearless
search into the remste corners Of the heart,
where lurk secret motives, hidden thoughts
and unexpressed emotions, though painful
at the time, will fully repay any sacrifice or
diligence by putting us upon thoroughly
frank, cordial and sincere terms with our
selves
There is a certain selEdepreciation which
is by no means desirable. 1t deals largely
in wholesale, depressing and unfair sef-con-
demnation, and is Us tar removed from that
candid and thorough selfacquaintauce
which We urge as any vanity or self-applause
can be. Such ideas are, however, more COM
monty uttered than felt. There is "pride
that apes humility" which is, of all things,
most despicable. True self knowledge, while
it will reveal much for which we must
blush, will never destroy self-respect, but
rather establish it, by placing it on trmer,
because q truer basis II will lead US not to
parade our faults, but to correct them not
TO underate our virtues, but to enhance
them. True modesty and self-respect ever
60 hand in hand, and nothing so greatly
serves to establish their uAited sway rs the
most thorough and fearless self-acquaintance,
l-Phita. Ledger.
Helping Others.
1t seems a strange thing, but 1t is never
theless true that sharing anothar'a hprdan