Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-11-28
SoIEC.nhdenoa.


All human power, in order to be
available, must be associated with a GER
tain degree of self-confdence- Many
timid child postppnes his frst attempt
at walking simply because he lacks the
courage to exercise an ability which he
fully possesses; and many a man lets
noble scheme and grand enterprise fall
to the ground from the same cause
Vanity and self-conceit are such disa-
greeable characteristics, and so frequently
accompany such an inferior grade of
knowledge and power, that in justly
visiting them with contempt and repre-
hension we are disposed to forget that
there may be an opposition extreme Of
selfdepreeiation and distrust which may
naralvze effort. and render latent power
utterly useless.
There are some who never seem to
believe themselves capable Of anything;
thev see others press forward to attempt
and achieve, and shrink back into
despondent inactivity. Having no
faith in themselves, they undertake
nothing, and eject nothing. II they are
convicted of some fault or bad habit
they have so little hope of being able
to cure it that they scarcely make an
effort, If some avenue of usefulness
and honor opens up before them, they
draw back, almost sure that they should
not succeed, and decline to enter. II
some duty presses urgently upon their
conscience, they try to quiet lis prompt
ings by pleading inability. Thus the1r
lives pass away in uselessness, their
faculties do not develop, their characters
do not improve, their abilities are wasted,
they dwindle into insigniicanee, and all
this not for the lack Of power, but for
the want of a confidence and courage
that would set that power into good,
practical working order. There are
certain obstacles in every path that can
only be overcome by the presence OF
this confidence. There are outward
hindrances to encounter, opposition to
meet, difficulties 10 surmOunt, preJudiees
to sweep away, the very presence of
which will terrify and appal the Waver
ing and despOndent, while they Will
melt away before the firm dignity Of
self-resuect and self-rcliance. There are
also, the innumerable obstacles from
within, inclinations to curb, passions to
restrain, desires 10 guide, temptations to
resist; these also need not only the
power to deal with them, but conf
dence in that power that can alonemake
it effective.
How then is this much needed quality
to be acquired? With some, doubtless,
Il is Unborn, and is natural as the breath
they draw. 1t is seen in the firm step,
the erect carriage, the determined eye
there is no shrinking from difficulty,
but an eagerness to cope with it no
pleading off from duty on the ground Of
incapacity, but a full reliance on the
ability to perform it. Sometimes, in
deed, this may be exaggerated, and an
oyerestimate Of self may tinge the char
acter with conceit, an extreme to be
equally avoided. The evils of the one
extreme, however, should never blind
US to those of the other, and true self
confidence is perfectly consistent with
| true mOdesty. He who knows his own
power, and believes in it, will be likely
also to know its limits, and we usually
| find that the bOasting and assumption,
which is so offensive to good taste, pro-
ceeds rather from a desire to impress
others with an exalted opinion of self
than from any dignifed and well
grounded self-reliance.
Much may be done for the young in
this respect. As a general thing, we are
too chaFy in praising and encouraging
their efforts, too free in criticising and
deprecating them. Many a child's
powers, in various directions, are thrust
back into inactivity by the cold, unaP-
preciative reception they meet with.
Children quickly adopt the sentiments
of their elders, and soon learn to put
the same value on their own powers that
others do. The parent, the teacher and
the employer can easily teach lessons
of self-depreciation which may cling
through life, and prevent the develop
ment Of powers that under more iayora-
BILE auspices, might have proved bless
ing to the community. Or, on the Othel
hand, by cheerful encouragement and
wholesome eommendation, they may
nourish many a tiny germ Of ability and
talent, that may one day come to be a
mighty influence in the world.
Constant and persevering effort is the
best cure for an unhealthy self deprecia-
ton. He who thinks that he can accom-
plish nothing, and makes no endeaEOr.
will soon destroy whatever abilities he
may possess; Incidence and self-dis-
paragementgo hand in hand and act and
react, each on each other. But noble
aims and steadfast industry will give
truer estimate of self and its powers
and they in their turn will rapidly de-
velop and improve under the sunshine
of firm and well grounded self-conti-
dence. Activity is the essential cOndi-
ton of growth, and growth IS the only
sure token of life and power.