St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1885-06-27
SELF CONFIDENCE,
Some Sensible Advice to a Boy-Propes
SeIf-Esteem.

| enough OF anything IS enough, and nc
matter how good thing is. too much
is more than you need, and self-esteem
| is no exception to the rule
1t is all well enough for a man to
hold his head up. and step around with
an air of considerable Importance, if he
is really doing any good tt the world
by living in it. But if he has never
done anything to be proud of, or any
thing to win the esteem of others, he
shows want of sense in being too
proud of himself. Of course, man
wants to possess self-confdence, and he
wants to think that he is just as good as
anybody. but he don't need to think
that the welfare of mankind hinges on
his action. or that the world rests on
his shoulder. That is too much of a
responsibility for any one man to as
sumo, and besides other people would
want say in the matter, and every
thing might not 60 on peaceably.
While it is all well enough for man
to have good opinion of himself, and
feel that he is able to 90 it alone, he
should be careful not to 60 too far.
Self-esteem is like mince pie, all right
in moderate quantities, but seven or
eight slices is all one should indulge in
at time. A man has to assume an air
of some Importance in this world to get
along, but the trouble is, too MANY slop
over.
This is big world, my boy, and no
man is imperatively necessary to its
success. Presidents. Kings and school
directors may de, but still the old
world goes round. Governors may re-
sign, road-overseers may move away.
but the great mass of mankind never
stop to weep. Mary Walker Yseult
Dudley. Ben Butler and other iioted
men may pass away. but the old world
will still swing around the circle as
though nothing had happened. When
you and pass off this stage of action,
my boy. there will be several people,
perhaps. who VIII not miss us.
The man who has self confidence, and
who starts out in life confident of his
ability TO perform great deeds, and who
has the nerve to try. and keep irving,
Will eventually succeed. But before he
achieves success he is apt to set Il great
deal Of self-concait knocked out of him.
There are Young men who have an idea
their services. and grand positions are
standing open Just ready for them to
step right in, and that all they will
have To do will be to reach FORTH and
grasp great fame. honor and riches at one
fell swoop. But in the course of time
they are pretty sure to wake up to the
cold knowledge that things are not so.
Many ayoung man. my boy. has an
idea that the eyes of the world are fixed
admiringly on him. when in reality his
neighbors are keepinga lookout to pre-
vent his getting in debt to them. Many
woman imagnes the eyes of her sex
are gazing with envy on her beauty,
when in truth they are only looking at
the mole on her nose. Mankind is
queer. my boy. and appearances are de-
ceiving. When You think people are
applauding your wisdom they may only
be giving You taffy and laughing at your
ignorance.
Don't bank too much on your self
Importance. Remember that the digni-
fled citizen is just as liable rs any other
to slip up on the hansna- peel. and that
a dog with a can tied to his tail is Just
rs apt to run between the legs of the
most pompous individual as any. Have
faith in yourself. and have confidence
and self-pride. but at the same time
keep lookout for sharpers. Remember
that there are plenty of other men who
know as much rs You do, and some of
them may know more.
1t is not we'll to debate i'm Your mind
whether or not YOU will accept seat in
Congress, when YOU do not know that
You could secure 4 nomination for JUS
tice of the peace. If you do you are
liable to be disappointed. And this
reminds us that much of our disappoint-
ment comes of our expecting too much
of ourselves.
The world is full of young men who
rate themselves at about four hundred
cents on the dollar, when they are not
actually worth over ten cents on the
dollar. Such men have got to come to
knowledge of their true worth. and it |
takes them long time to do it. They |
have to be knocked down great many |
times before they will stay down There |
are men who feel very Important. and |
who seem to believe that the world |
sways at their command, who attract |
attention BY the aroma of their feet and |
the smell of their breath.
My boy. remember that this is big
world. and that spread yourself as YOU
will-gain all the name and fame pos
as far to the front as Won
can, and still You have succeeded in
the attention of but few.
And when you die millions of ewes will |
never shed tear. and millions of
tongues will never speak your name.
Your children will quarrel over your
wealth. the lawyers will gobble it. and
the world will soon forget YOU Thomas
r Mo,lJort. in Peck's SIM
During the various carnival festivi-
les at Vienna. the palm for eccentricity
was carried off by ..beggars' ball !"
The guests were rugged out rs thieves.
coiners. defaulting CASH
ers, armed burglars. and rascafs of the
owest type. One of the most amusing
was q group of men
Iuarrelling violently, their faces
scratched and noses bleeding-a parody
IN the lively scenes that sometimes oc-
,ur. Prizes were distributed for the
lest dressed and sustained characters.
The first me ial was won by woman,
whose toilet bristied with tiny re.