Smyrna times., 1881-08-03
Vanity-A Failure.

1t is a curious and suggestive truth.
which however, is seldom perceived by
those most interested in it, that all affec-
tatiOn of superiority, on whatever ground
it may be based, produces exactly the op-
pOsite impression to that which it aims to
convey. Natures penalty for vanity and
pretcnsiOn is not merely failure, but a
failure of so exaggerated kind as to sink
the offender even 6elOU the level of esteem
which may fairly belong to him. Society
however indulgent to those who make no
intrusive claim upon her notice, assumes
critical attitude directly any one ap-
proaches her tribunal, sounding the trum-
pet of his own perfections. She holds him
| at arms length till she can investigate his
proud claims; she inquiries vigorously
into his record, discovers his weak points.
exposes his faults, and, instead of yielding
to his demands for respect and approval,
is very apt to find out good grounds for
her contempt and censure. There is. in
fact, natural disposition to depreciate
one who Over-appreciates himself, and to
hold up to the light of severe criticism
defects which had otherwise passed forever
unnOticed
The world is generally not far wrong in
such judgements, hasty though they NAV
be- The pretensiOns themselves. which
vanity sets up, are not usually very high.
1t seldom aspires to consideration of good
ness or greatness, far Oftener basing its
claims to admiration ON a pretty face. Il
line figure, graceful bearing, fashion,
able costume, luxurious banquet, costly
dwelling. 1t is almost inevitable that
when people boast of such things. or ex-
hibit them OstentatiOusly, an impression
should gain ground that they are destitute
| of any higher claims to consideration. If
man had genuis we think he would not
value himself upon his carriage and
horses; If he had force of character he
would not be proud of his tailor's skill !:
if he had merits of his own to stand upon
he would not try to borrow reputation
from his ancestors. The very effort he
makes to show off these things and to
claim certain standing in society because
of them is, of itself kind of confession
that he has nothing better to offer. and he
is very naturally esteemed accordingly.
There is another kind of pride which
occasionally Obtrudes itselfupon ournotice
and which claims to be of higher order.
viz tho YN1,iHa nf int ~.
might seem to be some degree of excuse.
Mental endOwments are at least part of
the man himself, and not mere accident
of external surrounding. Yet when we
| come to examine claims of this kind, do
we find them valid? On the contrary, do
they nOtalmOst invariably crumble beneath
our touch? Real genius is not only
modest in behavior, but humble in spirit.
1t looks upward in reverence, not down.
ward in scOrn. 1t has no disposition to
vaunt its own achievements, knowing how
far they fall short of even its own concep-
tiOns. 1t is only the inferior mind that
tries to push itself into notice. only the
man Ofvcry limited knowledge who desires
to air it on every occasion. The intellect
that is vain of itself must be small one
indeed-sO small that it cannot even see
the wealth of mind and the treasurers of
knowledge that are beyond its present
grasp. Society practically recognizes this
truth when it refuses its honors to those
who demand them, and lavishes them
upon those who crave them not. Those
men and women whose names we now
reverence as having added to the glory
and happiness of the world, seldom even
conceived of their greatness, much less
Vaunted it while the world has uncon-
sciously punished with just oblivion the
vain assumptions of cOnceited inferiority.
Labor of any kind is performed in the
best manner only by those who forget
themselves and put their whole heart into
its accomplishment. Their reward comes
to them, not in the applause of an admir-
ing crowd, but in the actual fulfilment of
their endeavOrs, in the excellence of their
work, and in the new and progressive
ideals that rise up before them, ever beck
Oning them on to fresh conquests. These
are the men and women, in every sphere
of life, whom the people delight to honor,
though they never seek it, and are aston
ished to receive 1t; while the pretenders
who present false claims and sail under
false colors, who strive to appear rather
than to be, and whose highest anticipation
is the approval or admiration of the world,
are dispised and forgotten, loOsing even
the poor triumph for the hopes of which
they have bartered truthful and a valu-
able life.-PhiiG. Ledger.