Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-12-23

Self esteem 10 good thing. ny boy,
bot y0u don't want too much Of II,
enough Of anything Is enough. and
10 matter how good . thing Is. too
much 10 more than you need, and
selfesteem u 40 exception TO the
rule
f. Is all well enough for 8 man 10
hold bis head up. and step around
with an air Of considerable import
ance. il he Is really doing any good
70 the world BY living IN H. Bot If
be has Fever done anything 10 be
proud Of. or anything 10 win the
esteem Of Others. he shows a want Of
sense in being too pioud Of himself.
OF course, q man wants 10 possess
self-confidence, and-he wants to
think that he is just ss good as any
body. but be don't need TO think
that the welfare OF mankind hinges
on his action, or that the world rests
on his shoulder. That 10 too much
Of q responsibility for any one man
to assume, and besides other people
would want say in the matter, and
everything might not 60 on peace
sbly
While it is all well enough for a
man TO have a good opinion of him
self and feel that he is able 10 90 IL
alone, be should be careful not TO go
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 i'm
portance in this world in order to
get along, but the trouble Is, too
many slop over.
This is a big world, my boy. and
no man IL imperatively necessary TO
its success. Presidents, Kings and
school directors may die, but still
the old world goes round. Gov
ernors may resign, rosd overseers
may move away, but the great mass
Of mankind never stop to wee -.
Mary Walker, Yseult Dudley, Ben
Butler and other noted 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 sew
ersl people, perhaps, who will not
miss US.
The man who has selfconfdence,
and who starts out in life confident
of his ability TO perform great deeds,
and who has the nerve 10 try, and
keep trying, will eventually succeed
But before he achieves success he is
apt to get q great deal of self-conceit
knocked out of him. There are
young men who have an idea that
the world is very much in need o:
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 young man, my boy, has
an idea that the eyes of the world
are fixed sdmiringly on him, when in
reality his neighbors are keeping q
lookout to prevent his getting in
debt TO them. Many woman
imagines the eyes of her sex are gsz
ing with envy on her beauty, wher
in truth they are only looking at the
mole on her nose, Mankind is queer
my boy, and appearances are deceiv
ing When you think people ar,
applauding your wisdom they may
only be giving you taffy and laugh
ing at your ignorance
Don't bank too much on your self
importance. Remember that tn,
dignified citizen is just as liable a
any other TO slip up on the banana
peel, and that dog with can ties
to his tail Is just As apt to run be
tween the legs OF the most pompou
individual as any. Have faith il
yourself, and have confidence an,
lfpride, but at the same time kee
a lookout for sharpers. Rsmembe
that there are plenty of other mel
who know as much as you do, an,
some may know more.
1t is not well to debate in You
mind whether or not you will accep
seat in Congress, when you do no
know that you could secure q nomi
nation for justice of the peace.
you do you are liable 10 be di.
appointed. And this reminds u
that much of our disappointment
comes of our expecting too much O
ourselves.
The world is full of young me
who rate themselves at about fou
: hundred cents on the dollar, whe
they are not actually worth over te
cents on the dollar. Such men hav
got to come 10 knowledge of thei
true worth. and it takes them Ion
time to do it. They have to b
knocked down q great msIy time
before they will stay down.
Ny boy. remember that this Is
big world. and that spread yoursel
as you will-gain all the name an,
fame possible-resch as far 10 tn
front as you can, and still you hav
succeeded in attracting the attention
of but few. And when you die mil
lions Of eyes will never shed q tear
and millions of tongues will neve
speak your name. Your ohildrel
will quarrel over your wealth, tn
lawyers will gobble il. aud the worl,
will soon forget you. Thomas Z
Monfort. in Peck's Sun.