River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-02-14
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, aud as we all
have to put up with our little aifronts, why
not | as we'll as anothera To be on dig
nifty Is to be always on gaurd, armed cap
a-Die, and the arrow neatly fitted into the
string always in state of suspicion
that lions are roaming in the way special
ly conseerated to the task of affronting
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 posses es, or the respect due to
his merits. The humility which takes
the lower place is 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 II by chance any obtrusive third
comes Ia and acts out his own self-re-
spect in our line, then the war that en-
sues is IA 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 a singer, oh, my
digniied friend with 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-
gether to spend pleasant, informal, peace
full little evening, where iinery is not and
simplicity is? You are all in the garden
unier the vine-trellised arbor, where the
voice would be heard to perfection, aud
where the soft warm air precludes all idea
of cold or discomfort; but ii 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.
You must have your piano and your
own accompanies, your stage lights and
your studied attitudes; you cannot sit
then in your chair and ''turn 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 Consequences 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 Lag
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
touch the brilliancy of which has earned
you local reputation as if you were
another Rchuman3 or Berlioz2 You will
not lower your accomplishment that leval,
you say with pride, when asked to play
in private with less than perfection in the
instrument and science in the audience.
The piano is tin kettle, and the people
are too stupid to know good music from
bad; an Italian organgrinder from the
streets would please them just as much,
and you have Scriptural warranty for it
that throwing pearls before swine is a
work neither profit nor pleasure.
Dignity seldom goes out tor a holiday,
and never goes off guard. 1t is Away 10
be found at its post, watchful, vigilant
prepared to take the offensive as well as
to defend itself should the smallest occa.
sion arise 1t cannot believe in the limo
cent intentions Of its friends, but use its
brains as well as its time in suspicious
which discover nothing but the asser5ion
of its own Importance. A word, a look,
carelessly given, thoughtlessly spoken,
wounds it to the quick; and what others
would pass by as not worth a secoEd
thought this irritable and irrational dig
nifty maintains to be the cause sufficient
for quarrel.
Dignity cannot make shifts as meaner
folks are obliged TO do, nor put up with
inconvenience such as all must bear at
times; it cannot hold up its corner of the
common burden without crying out the
injustice of man and fate, and calling the
world to witness TO its marty1dom or its
degradation. Give dignity, even when
HuuSIA3 DOltiJpCS III tllCil ShlAo3 GSlfSQ III
a wooden bowl and with three pronged
fork to eat them with, and it holds itself
either morally affronted or heroically pa
tient that it accepts such undeserved con
temptuousness of circumstance.
In its secret, silly heart it holds that its
life and fate should be ruled in another
way, and of quite different pattern from
what other people are obliged to put up
with; and with this these creatures hold
that when they bare common misfortune
or inconvenience with the rest, they bear
it doubly, suffer doubly and are doubly
to be pittied. Are they not digniied2
and has not their dignity been wounded
You, poor pachyderm, without any to
woun l. have less to bear, and are there
fore less to be pitied. Evidently, they
say with triumph, the world must accept
their reading. Men, women and the
dignifed is their Classification of
humanity; amp they stick to it maefully.
--Harper's Weekly.
Dangers OF Ether.