The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1893-07-21

It is All unpleasant duty to parade
ones complaints before the public,
ma thinK it is y duty | owe to
hlll .uug humanity, And if cOu,d
not get another ElecCrOpois5 there is
not money enough in Tennessee to
buy mine. Respectfully,
w. +. BURTON.
Henrietta, Tenn, Dec. 20, 1892.
For ffty-page descriptive circular
of the great curative agent, address
Dubois Il Webb, rooms "a, So, So, 80
and 81 Cole Building, Nashville,
Tenn. Iebl7 cow ly
Fancied Importance and Real Worth.
AZ there are varying ideas of what
constitutes greatness, so there are
unjust claims to personal Importance
originating i'll erroneous seil-esti-
mates. A man may found his claim to
superiority on personal qualities, or
inherited rank, or wealth, or acquired
position. Iu any case The self-ad.
mirer hugs the delusiOn that he
stands head aud shoulders above
those not c0rrespOndingly dis
tinguished, q delusiOn which may be
shared by such rs covet his advaut.
ages. "lf mau think himself TO be
something when he is nothing, he
deceivetn himself, and may deceive
others Of similar tendencies. But
when his leading trait becomes
egotism that renders him insult
ferably presumptuous, his claim is
disputed and resented, and his fol-
lowing diminishes. He imagines
himself the centre OF ~ admlring
observation He ls aptly described
IN Adam Bede," by Mrs Poyser
who, referring to another character,
compared him to a certain Chanticleer
that eXerted his vocal powers under
the impression that the sun arose tn
hear him crow. Perhaps it has
never occurred to the self-importan(
person with his exaggerated ideas OF
the value of his agency in the world
that this planet Will continue its ac-
Customed course after he has gone
The young and inexperienced are
easily deluded into the belief that
people who dress stylishly, use ele'
giant language, are polished in theiC
manners, and display a showy equip
age, are essentially superior TO tnosc
who do not possess similar AdVant'
ages. Buta prOtracted experience III
lire and frequent contact with mem
bers Of the different classes OF society
serve to modify such PERCEPTION
very m Aterialiy. They discover tina
while these seeming indications o
elevated life are in some in stances Al
index TO real character and crcum
stances, they may be, in Others, thu
screen used to conceal them ana
also, that the advantages alluded t
arr not Indispensable to persona
excellence.
True greatness is not actusted b.
selfish motives. 1t works, not solel.
for the individual interests OF thu
unit, but for the combined interests
OF the whole. To be genuinely an
extensively useful Is to be great
Real worth is the foundation OF tru
greatness; the superstructure may b
brilliant; or 1t may be solid but no
snowy. It is meritoriOus, but no
pretentiOus. 1t ID not confined to au
class, yet doubtless much real great
ness il unrecUguized because, in Oh
scurity, its posses-or has no biogrs
pher. There have been remarkaol
evidences Of its presence among TN
poor. There is au instance in whic
a family consisting Of three member
are living in extreme poverty, an
one OF them, = woman, Is lAooring IC
the maintenance of the others, a
aged aud bed-ridden father and
afflicted sister. Compare the wort
of the bread-winner in this instanC
with that OF the idler in society
the slave to fashion, and decide whic
is the greater Of the two. NV M
sOever will be great among you, il
him be your minister, and whosoev'
will BIZ chief among you, let him
your servant"
Sometimes the estimates OF Ind
vidual character are correct, al
sometimes they are not. The XII
and degree of the usefulness OF eaC
should determine the amount
credit given-the rule by which Ju
estimates are made.
The opportunities OF distinction
this life are too inferior to make
pursuit a leading object. There are T.
many myriads OF people constant
coming on the stage OF action, movil
along, aud passing off, for any ind
vidual to gain q great amount
celebrity, unless possessed OF unusu
qualifications for winning renoW
ordinarily, very little more than
limited local reputation of compar
lively brief duration is attainaole.
Besides being uncertain, such
object is unworthy, and consequent
unsatisfactory; but he who
actuated by unselfish motives W
secure reputation without seeking
gain his own benefit without pI
suing it, aud obtain happiness wit
out making it his aim.
LOUISIANA