The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-01-10
On Dignity.

Inc people VINO live on tnelr sQlSnluy
are seldom to be found absent from
their domain-never to be caught wan
dering into the regions of common-sense
and simplicity, Of good natured allow
ance Of small neglects, and the broad
belief that it was not meant, with that
still broader, if it were it did not signi-
fly, and as we all have to put up with
our little affronts, why not as well as
another? To be on dignity is to be al
WAYS on guard, armed cap-a-pie, and
the arrow neatly fitted into the string
always in state of suspicion that lions
are roaming in the way, specially con-
secrated to the task of affronting that
sacred dignity when they come on the
track. This standing on ones dignity
runs through the whole of mans life,
and never for one moment lets him
forget what he possesses, or the respect
due to his merits. The humility which
takes the lower place is virtue highly
commendable in other people, but the
selfrespect which takes that to which
he has a. right is the quality which those
of us who stand on our dignity prefer
for our own parts. and we are sure to
believe that we have the right to the
best of everything. II by chance any
obtrusive third comes in and acts out
his own self-respect in our line, then
the war that ensues is sight for men
to laugh at, if perhaps the angels might
be sOrTowful, as we are told they are
when they witness human folly.
Dignity is always raising up difficulties
where none would exist, and as often
making other people uncomfortable, or,
at least, giving them unnecessary disap-
ggointments Are you singer, oh, my
@dignified friend, with voice that the
world at large would love to hear. or
perhaps already lovesp and do you find
yourself one samong many who have
gathered together to spend a pleasant,
informal, peaceful little evening. where
finery is not and simplicity is? You
are all in the garden under the vine
trellised arbor, where the voice would
be-heard tbsperfection, and where the
soft warm air precludes all idea of cold
or discomfort; but you have too much
dignity to sing a simple air for the en-
jovment of a few kindly-natured folk
who want to be amused. and are not
critical as to methods. You musthave
your piano and your own accompanist,
your stage tights and your studied ,atti-
tudes ,ayou 6Anjfbt Sif then In your
chair and rtalrhEa t0nef az tie hum
blest croaturS in - world, who has
voice & TIRES notes, good temper and
no dignity, table to d.. But you like
the position cfsbeiS begged and prayed
and made much of, with the conscious
ness that it gives you of being somebody
Of -eessequanre+ sumebodr on whom
an eyssiafe fixed, md who stops the
whole social wheel for the moment.
Hpu like 10 be ettfeated and u ref1se,
- DiyeEpieht lefsse EAS1ftss and you
~ Hit dignity ii the ! socess. and get
~ II what youAmainly desireAthe
sense of importance. for yourself, and
tn bSh636 tne1t " fhe rest Jas the
tyiku I'D toSit Id ySn afsj6ice in
fine execution, and touch the brill
fancy Of which hss easnAflrYop ~ lced
s ssR|ss N 81 Bill eu IN a,ot
lower your accomplishment to that
..isvss 3oqsey 9TH Yfde, when asked
~ ph5S inSpriya& wAkg less than per-
sfee66nin The instrument and science in
the audience. The piano is. n tin kettls,.
and the peep@e erestae stppidsto know
III musi ION I'D San ltalias urg4n-
H&hr frSAs SlSks streets would please
them just as much. and you have
Scyiptpral warranty for it that throwing
pearls before swine is work of neither
profit nor pleasure s~- v
kX:E .3ao~, - A,,x el~ III: