The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1886-06-19
The False and the Real.


lection of modesty. The poor
sort of love-born partly of pity
and partly of vanity-which is felt
for modesty, turns to bitter hate
AZ soon as it is discovered that the
undertaking and the retiring are
counterfeits.
And yet there is nothing in this
revelation beyond the recognition
of cheat. The cheat existed be-
fore-it was the veay essence OF
the so-ealled virtue: but the per-
son cheated was supposed to be
the man or woman who cherished
an inadequate idea of self.
The only change in the position
of affairs is that it is now seen that
it is the other party that has been
cozened, and the cheated has been
really the cheater. Instead of the
"modest" person having had too
mean opinion of self, he or sho
has been quite aware of the fact as
regards personal excellences, but
tried to win regard by pretending
to be ignorant of them.
1t argues badly for human ma
ture that we should all be so will
ing to deceive and be deceived, if
only, by SO doing, we can be graft
fed, and have our self-loye agreea-
bly, stimulated.
Modesty is a pretty rather than
a thoroughly respectable quality.
1t is like that "Mincing gait
and gentle, dove-like-manner'
which are wondrous feeble, but
practically fascinating, especially
to the weak-minded.
In man it imparts amiability to
the spirit of intercourse; in we-
man it produces a sort of n coy
ness which men like, andlwomen
like, too, chiefly for the fish rea-
sons we have already indicated.
A modest man." if he be not eff
Terminate, is admired and prefer
red rs an associate to the loud and
bold talker and the self-assertive
man, albeit the latter may be the
more accurate in his judgment,
and strong-minded in his policy
and demesnor.
A truly modest woman is wo-
manly, than which no higher COM
pliment can possibly be paid her.
We concede all this; and every
body must, of course concede it in
view of the sense in which the
term is used, and particularly
when we think of what it opposite
-immodesty-is held to imply in
the sexes respectively.
Modesty, properly defined and
estimated, is to be valued only
when it means, self-restrsint and
self-respecting reserve-in short,
when it is All outcome of judg-
ment, instead of the mere fruit of
excellent qualities-who knows
and values his possession-to ex-
ercise self-restraint with regard to
the parade of personal advantages
in society.
1t is felt that good taste may be
easily offended, because good taste
is matter of common sense, and
the intelligent being gifted with
excellence of brain or body wdil
feel that other folks may be equil-
ly gifted, that nothing but conflict
would result from q counter
demonstration, and that, rs re-
CARDS those who are not equally
gifted, it would be humilitating
and unkind to expose their defects
by contrast.
These considerations lie at the
root of the feeling or sentiment Of
true modesty in a well-balancSd
mind, and 80 it comes to pass that,
after all, the great principle, "Do
unto others as you would they
should do unto YOU" underlies
this as it does every other virtue.
Love thy neighbor as myself"
is the law and the prophets; and
the man or woman who does this,
most needs be modest.
The reputed site of the Gar
den of Eden at the junction of Ii