Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-10-16
vAlNGLORY.
An Egot,stioal Trait Which Leads e
Hatred, Jcalousy and Shame.

/ An EgotSsttcal Trait Which Leads to
Hatred. Jcalousy and Shame.
1t is difficult to Judge of vanity or
vainglory, how far it is b~iameworthy;
for perhaps if any one knew he was
vain, then he would not be 20. A phil
osopher said that if a man should sud-
denly believe he was moral. he would
be moral. But the strength Of moral
ity is in this. that no one can believe
he is doing we'll when defying the laws
Of nature. So. perhaps. it is Impossible
| that one should be vainglorious if he
knew that he was so, Therefore, it 10
difficult to judge of ones self as to
whether n be pulled up or not. But,
contrariwise. is it not a sign of con-
scious c%omplaccncy lurking in ourselves
to suspect or accuse othors of being
flushed? If we are not acquainted
with vanity, how should we know it so
readily, and why feel it if it did not
seem to dispute our own self-esteemp
We must examine narrowly why con-
ceit is a trait 80 displcas,ng to us; for
it may be that the self-cstecm of an
other offends because it tlaunts a rival
and disquiets our se%lf-prajse; as La
Rochefoucauld AYERS that lit is our
own vanity that makes the vanity of
others intolerable." Hence, it has
been said we'll that SANDER and evil
speaking came forth much more from
vanity than from malice; for we give
credence and currency to an ill trait or
bad report, not maliciously to do an.
other harm. but from vainglory, to
oVrr0yf M 0Nvn 0NNnntk If rprco1vna
and show up our claim of superiority.
Vainglory is ridiculous: for it is then
q question with what a man compares
himself. With a low Standard But
he is not made a mountain because his
measure is a mole-hill. Or with a high
standard? Then certainly he will not
vaunt himself. Or if he be among the
very great and grand spirits who might
boast of themselves, il any might, but
who always are those who do not, then
must he compare himself with the vast
ness of knowledge and with the great
ness of the earth and of the heavens.
But to himself then he will seem to
sink into these as if lost or dissolved
or disappearing in their glory; and
when he remembers himself. it will be
only to be humbled and quclled.
10 be vain of our own faculty is as
fool sh as to be conceited over another
mans work, for as no man made HIM
self, it is not what he Is. but only what
he does with his material; that a be
praise to him; and even over this he
must be humble in proportion as God
has dealt him a fine tool with which tc
work. Humility, dignity and grateful
ness are three virtues that go Close to-
gether, and they frequent the cave of
silence. Much speaking, and especial
ly eager speaking. is like to be conceited
speaking. For when wisdom forces
utterance. there can not be high-lowr
words no a swelling manner. But ii
the object be to display parts and set of
wit speech will eagerly forestall anc
cngross.
1t is q common remark that vanity
stands in the way Of learning; no man
will seek anything more or better if he
is satisfied with what he is. But it is a
deeper thought, touching our lives
more nearly, that vanity distorts OK
pcrience; for some emotions it fonds off
and others it invites too often or inten-
sites. 1t keeps away OF weakens fear.
OF which there is a worthy and useful
kind, and love and hope. For an una
Dashed and forward man will not be
humble enough to fear, nor s%elf-forget-
full enough to love, nor devout enough
to hope. But vanity opens the way to
hatred, to jealousy, to shame. and puts
an especial sting in them. For the con-
se%lucntial will make great account of
any hurt that is done them; and. says
La Rochefoucauld: eThe reason wky
the pangs of shame and jealousy are so
sharp is this: vanity gives lis no aid in
supporting them" Also. he says:
1.-The most violent passions have their
intcrmissions, but vanity gives us no
respite" Strong emotions, which arc
great disturbers Of the mind, at least
are not perpetual, but leave us, as it
were. breathing space in which the
mind girds itself anew. But vanity is
always agitating lis, and leaves us no
moments free from its distortion of our
vision.
Egotism is sometimes an armor in
which one is proof against the pangs
OF self-distrust and of the sense Of
short-coming. But it has very great
pains of its own, for it meets contin-
ually with great shocks. and there is
nothing to mitigate its pain, since by
its nature it stands alone and unsup-
ported. The worst vanity is that
which never makes any pretense or
tries to display any parts. but angrily
or sulkily expects attention or gifts
without even the pains to appear>to de-
serve them. This IS an egotism that is
offended when any one else is honored.
There are some who never work, but
make huge claim to attention for what
'hey are. and are angry if people do
not bow to them because they might
10 great things if they would. TO
be always comparing ourselves with
with others is the most insidious van