The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-11

Amusing Incidents of seIf.Conceit. TngratI-
tnde and seifishness.

Amusing Incidents of SeIf.Conceit. Tngrati-
tn1e and sellishness.
Charleston (S. o. News.
In the Tennessee mountains few summers
ago we saw In the hotel dining-room lady who
seemed to excite certain amount 81 unused in
terest She had q way Of hurrying out Of the
room after meals. and gathering her children
round her like o hen guarding her chicks from
the approaching hawks The little family party
spoke TO no one and focked by themselves in
corners When she saw US she fastened NY
"Ohl how glad am to meet some other Charles
tonian. These barbafians here" semi.tone
lower nearly kill me- What mistake for any
of US to come here" She forgot the delightful
air, fare and scenery of the place; also, that no
coercion was used to keep her there and finally
that she was inspiring those around her with
anything but affection for her native place. That
afternoon we heard her telling a new arrival, q
foreigner travelling on a scientific errand, that
ne really Should go out of his way to visit F.,
in Carolina You would meet our best people
there In the summer" she assured him. That
would be pleasant" said the foreigner bowling
politely. We learned incidentally that this gem
tleman was habitue of a very brilliant literary
circle in Vienna.
Again. in Virginia. party was once made up
to cross the lake and dine at a neighboring hotel
An elderly fellow-citizen, staying at our inn,
went over, also. but in Smaller boat, belonging
to friend at whose house he was to dine 1t
was understood by himself and friend that he
this, we set out on the return trip and were half
way across before his son, pleasant lad who
was with us. wondered why the friend had not
yet rowed his father over. We Immediately
turned and found the old gentleman at the land
ing in state of unappeasably offended dignity.
Our explanation was received in implacable
silence, his only remark on the way being sar-
castle one to his son: II understand De
Brown was forgotten" His wife was almost
fearful on hearing of the incident, and told her
party, "who we'll knew Mr.. De Browns position
at home" They both absented themselves from
the evening meal, though 1t did not seem to in
terfere with the general gayety.
1t was only the other day that a Northern
friend told us of meeting in sleeping-ear going
somewhere in his region lady who insisted on
having section not previously telegraphed for
She Kept repeating to the distracted conductor:
perhaps you do not know that am Mrs. John
Smith, of Charleston. S. c." while he en-
deavored to make her understand that sall the
blood of all the Towards" could not procure for
her in that crowded sleeper berths which she had
not Secured beforehand. One more illustration
to concludes: youth among us recently re-
turned with his family party from Western
tour. They had received, through accidental
introduction, some kindly civilites from a gen.
tleman there of high position, intellectually and
socially. This young man, describing the trip,
spoke of the circumstance saying that Mr..
--- was so pleased to meet his family. Put
himself out in every way for them. Was evident
ly glad to get the opportunity. He knew, of
course, who we were" One of his hearers OBJ
served that the gentleman in question was
known to him by reputation. HE has been
very we'll spoken of" replied the youth. conde-
scendingly. He really deserves" pulling up
his collar with fatuous air, great credit. Has
worked himself up wonderfully Very low ORR
gin. hear. Carpenters, something of that
sort" His much-amused listeners neglected to
inform him that Mr.. was of antecedents.
education and position infinitely superior to his
own. Certainly, modesty and gratitude for kind
ness received are attributes of the highest form
of breeding
1t would be narrowing to think of all being
judged by these exceptional cases, but it is con
soling to know that we have quite another class
of travellers to represent as creditably-persons
Of liberal culture and true good breeding.