The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-05-27
Selfishness Of Ones Self.

Perhaps no form of sel6shness is so
common and yet so little remarked upon,
as that indicated in the above title. Il
people are stingy of their money, or ex.
ciusiVe In regard to their homes, or self
ish III the enjoyment of their possessions
oi M any sort, the world of generous and
hberal-minded people around them has a
very swift and unmistakable epithet with
winch to label their characteristic vice.
put many man whose mol>ay flows
reely-who forgets in five minutes the
dollar ne gave to beggar or friends
intensely selfish of himself. Another
takes pleasure-perhaps little too obvi-
Gus satlsfaction-in opening his spacious
and handsome grounds. or his ELEGANT
nome, to the people; but touch him upon
the side requiring any real sacrifice, and
ne shuts up like an oyster in his shell.
The way of the world still runs good
deal too near pure seltishness. A very
good case has been made out for the
charge that even parental affection is not
free from the original taint. Parents are
quite given to " celebrating themselves"
IN their children. Some mems pride in
their wives has its basis in its modistes'
and decorators bills, and they scarcely
conceal the semi-Turkish satisfaction
they feel in considering the credit she
reflects upon her possessor. One need
not go to Cairo or Constantinople to see
wives who are part of an establish
ment.''
But it is still by the element we have
called selfshness of ones self that manv
men, and women too, are most truly
characterized. They are apparently des-
titute to even glimmering conscious
ness that the rule called golden applies
to social and personal intercourse, as
well as to morals of higher grade. Even
the lower obligations suggested by the
social necessity which all generous ma
lures feel to give and take, do not seem
to touch them. They will lend you mon
ey-perhaps; they will do you a service,
If you will only ask it; they will say good
words to and for you. But when it
comes to voluntarily giving themselves
up to you in any way-to putting them
selves OUT as the saying is-to meet
ing, that definition of friend which
makes him one ones ''other self''-they
are found wanting. They will take all
you may give as matter of course; but
when it comes to giving in return, in the
same way, they are as juiceless as
husk-as empty as tunnel,
There are men and women in public
life whose pathway is marked by the re-
mains of whilom friends whom they have
squeezed dry and dropped, like so many
sucked oranges. In politics it is said of
such man that he has kicked down the
ladders by which he climbed. In Itera-
y or other walks of life, the human
sponge often swells up with the thought
that he has outgrown his humble friends
If other days. In private life, the self
soul contents itself with be-
coming more and more the center of its
title circumference, taking none within
is orbit who will not consent to revolve
lround it and emit light and warmth for
is enjoyment.
There have been many and noble def |
litions of what friend is. People of |
eal individuality, strength and sensi-
iveness doubtless have fewer true friends |
han they are apt to think, unless they
ave been cherishing unconsciously low
deals. But whatever friend may not |
e, certainly that sweet and noble term
) unmerited by one who, however gem
rous in other directions, is selfish of
imself. f.-GOlden Rule.