The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-03-02
TO Seem and 10 BE.

/ IL would probably astonish any one could
| lie form correct estimate of the amount of
energy and effort that men put forth for the
mere sake of appearing to be something diff
ferent from what they really are. That they
should try hard to be different seems not un-
natural, especially rs in that endeavor is in
volved all hope of Improvement. The child
longs to be a youth; the youth to be man
the man strives to be richer, or wiser or mob
Ter than he is, foreseeing the many avenues Of
happiness, or power or beuefcence that will
thus be opened unto him. All efforts in such
directions are ineligible, and, though many
mistaken methods are adopted, and backward
steps taken in consequence, the ends in view
are recognized as good within their respective
bounds. But when mems energies are re-
moved from these objects and fixed upon
making other people believe that they
are more prosperous, or powerful, or skiliul,
or deserving than they really arc, the aim ap-
pears 50 puerile, and the endeavor so wasted,
that it is difficult to understand how il can
obtain so large an influence.
| In the first place, it takes only an urdi-
nary amount OF intelligence and foresight to
see that such an aim can have only the most
! transient success. The man who lives be-
! You'd his means TO keep up appearances, or
| who processes 10 be able to do what he can
not do, or who pretends to know what he
does not know, or who apes a virtue which
he possesses not, works very hard for very
poor returns. He must first overcome his
natural scruples of conscience in the matter
OF deceit he must be ever on the alert to pre-
vent detection, exercising all his ingenuity
| 10 keep up the role lie has assumed fearful
lest some unguarded expression, or some un-
looked for accident, may destroy at blow
all his irail deiences. OF course, lie must learn
to endure certain self-cOntempt which he
can never wholly escape, and conviction
that the work that lie has undertaken is a
direct obstacle to any true growth of his fac
uIties, or Improvement of his moral nature
In return for all this what does he obtain
AT the very best, only the satisfaction of
having deceived few superficial people for
longer or shorter time, and having obtain.
cd from them certain considerations that they
would never have bestowed with open eyes.
Perhaps his family has been tolerated in
fashionable circles, or he has forced himself
into some office of trust and responsibility
which he has not the ability to fill, or has
received applause and honor which he knows
he does not deserve. These are the utmost
results for which he can ever hope in return
for all the labor, pain, fear and degradation
to which he has submitted. Even these can
last but short time. The thin DISCUSSES he
has assumed will soon be penetrated the
small gains he has extracted will be wrested
from him; his poverty of purse, or mind, or
character will be exposed, and whatever real
merit he may possess will be buried beneath
the ruins of pretence. From such downfall
how few are able to rise to life of honest
reality!
On the other hand, he who, far from being
satisfied with himself as he is, devotes his
energies, not to appearing better, but to
growing better, stands upon solid and
enduring ground. He has nothing to
conceal, and no exposure to dread Not
wishing to claim honor that is not due him,
he wastes no time in planning or striving for
ii, but economies his powers for the purpose
OF actually rising TO heights which others
only pretend to occupy. His life is spent,
not in initiating others, but in developing
himself not in drawing veil over his de-
tects, but in striving 10 overcome them-not
III shaming excellences, but in pursuing
them. Sincere efforts ofthis kind, wisely made,
seldom fail. With al their temporary draw
backs their ultimate course is upward and
onward. Although they have not worked
for it, true men will receive all the honor
which they justly deserve. In spite of pre-
tence and its short-livcd success men are gen
orally valued at what they are worth. Sin.
cerity and honest endcavor will not die I'M.
recognized, although their recognition has
not been sought or expected. Those whom
the world has most greatly honored have
generally thought and cared the least about
its plaudits. Absorbed in their undertakings,
and conscious of their own capacities they
have been masters both of themselves and Of
their work, and public esteem, unasked and
unsought, has been poured upon them in full
measure. All sincere and earnest lives seek
ing realities and spurning shams, bear within
them the elements of true success, while
shadows, where no substance is, will fail even
in their poor aim.