Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-17
On Dignity.

The people who live on their dignity
are seldom to be found absent from their
domain-never to be caught wandering
into the regions Of common-sense and
simplicity, Of good-naturcd allowance OF
small neglects, and the broad belief that
it was not meant, with that still broader,
if it were it did not signify, and as we all
have to put up with our little affronts, why
not as we'll as another? To be on dig
nifty is to be always on gaurd, armed cap
u-Dse, and the arrow neatly fitted into the
string-always in state of suspicion
that lions are roaming in the way special
ly consecrated to the task of afronting
that sacred dignity when they come on
the track.
This standing on ones dignity runs
through the whole Of a 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 a virtue highly com
mendable in other people, but the self
respect which takes that to which he has
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 every
thing. If by chance any obtrusive third
comes in and acts out his own self-re-
spect in our line, then the war that en-
sues is a sight for men to laugh at, if
perhaps the angels might be sorrowful,as
we are told they are when they witness
human folly.
Dignity is always raising up difficult
ties where none would exist, and as often
making other people uncomfortable, or,
at least, giving them unnecessary disap-
pointments. Are you singer, oh, my
dignifed friend with a voice that the
world at large would love to hear, or per-
haps already loves? and you find yourself
one among many who have gathered to-
gethcr to spend pleasant, informal peacc-
full little evening, where tinery is not and
simplicity is? You are all in the garden
unler the vine trellised arbor, where the
voice would be heard to perfection, and
where the soft warm air precludes all idea
of cold or discomfort; but it you have too
much dignity to sing a simple air for the
enjoyment Of few kindly natured folk
who want to be amused and are not crit
ical as to methods.
1Ou must nave your piano anu your
own accompanist, your stage lights and
your studied attitudes; you cannot sit
! then in your chair and 'Sturn q tune" as
the humblest creature in the world, who
has voice of three notes, good temper
and no dignity, is able to do. But you
like the position of being begged and
prayed and made much OF, with the con
seriousness that it gives you Of being
somebody of consequence somebody on
whom all eyes are fixed, and who stops
the whole social wheel for the moment,
You like to be entreated and to refuse.
as Dives might refuse Laz-
arus; and you air your dignity in the
process, and get by it what you mainly
desire--the sense of importance for your.
self, and the disappointment Of the rest
as the tribute paid to it.
Do you rejoice in fine execution. and 8
touch the brilliancy Of which has earnec
you local reputation as if you were
another Rchumana or BerlioZ? You viii
not lower your accomplishment that leval
you say with pride, when asked to pla.