The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1886-09-24
PRIDE OF BIRTH AND WEALTH.

There are many sources from which
human pride originates, but those 81
birth and wealth amp ear to be the
most prolific of unpleasant results.
I he man who boasts that the red
sUteam hat conrses through his veins
is purer and of higher value than
that of others of humber origin, is
apt to stand aloof from his fellows
in naughty assertion of a God-be.
slowed superiority, and fears any
contact with them would faint his
immaculate humanity beyond the |
hope OF pur,fcation.
Such man arrogates to himself
prominence Of rank which all are not
willing to accord to him; and this
often proves a source of much dis
quiet to himself and those with whom
he Is forced to discharge business
obligations. 1t is his God-given her
itage, not a self-acquired endowment
that money can buy, as 1t does the
rich man costly turnout and house
hold equipage; and, strange to say,
it is often this same class who pre-
tend to deride the folly of this boast
ed claim upon the public homage
and respect. Apparently scornlng
this assumption of superiority III
others for what they claim as birth
right-which is nothing more than
the fortuitous result of Circu m
stancss-their own oycrbearing speech
and air establish their own claim to
blood as their sole family inheritance,
nature having very nig 5ardly bestow-
ed all noble qualities and graces of
mind and heart.
Pride of wealth is smother source
Of boosted preemlnence. Let every
man be willing to lay open before the
world the 10 cans employed to acquire
his po sessions before he t1sunts his
gilded ensign uf social distinction.
f Were there 10 degradin, artlfice
f and trickeries, no glaring evasions o
: truth and hohesty, no small, mean
= unmanly subterfuges, no impostur,
e practised upon the il norant and un
Il o.
v posed upon relentless necessity tc
acquire those gains whicn now ella m
c or for the worlds worship, then W,
. might not blush when we demand {
), certain modicum of tie worlds de
o ference.
$ Nothing justifes an undue prid,
, even in moral, mental, or ply sica
predOmihance of excellence, A
s young man may claim by right o.
2 birth fine commanding form, feat
: ures as Apollo's,s a mind endued with
f the heights and depths Of ancien,
) and modern lore, and heart teemin ng
) with every virtue and quality tha,
enno5le humanity; but how much Oi
; it is entailed upon him by his pro
: genitors, and how might every thrill
, of pride be chilled in one fell hour by
, some unforeseen calamity,
When we find the individual who
} is proud Of some ingenious contriv
, ance Of hi. own mechanical skill
for conceallng some hu miliating per
, sonal defect from birth you may &C,
cord to him pride that does no
owe its origin to others and possess
es only the merit of being the eff
spring Of self-love and vanity. You
may see young woman whose teeth
hair, fine complexion, and symmetry
! of form, though due to the mechanic
al ingenuity of others. give her much
, pride but she is cautious not to ex-
press her self-gratulation, for she
would not for worlds have it known
that those extraneous accessorie.
had been enlisted IN her behalf to
impart such charms and gracss.
There is a pride, however, which
! is both legitimate and commendabls-
it Is the pride we feel when we have
: gained the mastery over any eyi
passion, when We have battled sue
: cessfully against the predominance
of those Inherited, Unborn traits and
| infrmities that have rendered our
progenitOrs aud all under their in
5 fucnce and authority unhappy
| When we have thus triumphed we
may cherish secret pride too noble
| to be expressed In boastful Words
S Buitimorean.