The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-26
sFIFIsHSEss A BORE.

II Is not only 10 tho outside, the general
world. that selfshness is a mighty bore: that
every ono knows. II is a disgust to see the
smallest child eat his morsel alone; TO
see him grab the biggest cake in the dish, or
throw up his hand and snap his fingers IN
the face OF his embarrassed classmates that
he may cut him down-a quintescence OF Ill
manners and great disgrace to puohc
schools and their managers IL Is
an ofense 10 see the older ones, brim-
ful of themselves, take the very best
places and things for themselves and display
their greatness to impress smalness on every
one else in the common game of Immense Me
and little you. In small or large room 1t
will not do for one Great Person entirely to oc-
cupy space to the humiliation of all the rest.
The most distinguished on self evident and
eternal principles and truths has right to
only certain limits of air and attention. And
when he or she assumes lions share they
are easily and instinctively voted bores.
Go all through lifeto the last stage and frai-
ton of meanness when theugy, cramped body
tells tho story of cankerine whitening soul
that has but one idea left that get and keep;
and the sight of it suggests heartburn. Sell
fishness to the public is approved n wretched
nuisance. Although we own it to be mag
unanimous to rejoice with them that rejoice,
mono of US can love other people quite as
they do themselves So self-assertion is
soon overdone. A little Of it, more than
little. is by much too much. No man
can live 10 himself and spend his days
like a spindle only winding around his
own axis He soon winds up disastrously.
But the remarkable thing about this breach
Of the law Of general equity and meum and
tuum is its reactionary effect and self-punish-
ment. The selfish are forever getting in
their own way and standing in their own
light The commonest Illustration Of this is
the hypochondrac. How often has the doc
tor to tell his patient; Stop thinking about
yourself and your ailments and go to work
He will not obey him and he can't obey him.
SO be goes on with his quackeries and his
lotions and his potions. till his pockets are
loaded with vials and pill boxes. his hours
filed up with something's TO do or 10 take,
and himself becomes a conservatory of COM
plants, a very universe Of aches and pains.
But the moral Of his life tale is, Don't spend
your days IN looking after your own life.
They lose it that buy it with much care.
And the same story is told and the same les
son taught in ten thousand ways. ambition
and ayarice are self-aYengers. The one fights
It's way by ugly aud hateful courses TO an
eminence, sustained on air, there to be a
mark for all the shafts and glances Of envy.
hatred. malice and vindictiveness; or groans
in private over the worlds injustice or in
gratitude. And the other-ay arice-makes
every mans good luck a source of misery to
itself. and It's own accumulations only vexing,
fostering cares.
But in far more respectable sphere than
these seIfshness virtuous shapes, makes
itself unhappy. Morbid sensitiyeness and ex-
treme conscientousness forgets the element of
sehshness that is to-turng it, and is self
made martyr.
The great business and discipline OF life is
to kill out sefshness as the best material is
cleaned of its dross. And the sooner we all
find ourselves wholly devoted TO great and
everlasting aims and ends. the sooner life
moves smoothly happily advancingly. 1t IS
the voice Of nature and history. lie that find
eth bis life shall lose it, and ne that loseth his
life for divine manhood's sake shall find it.