The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-10
THE ,rcoSvENrEscE OF GREATNESS

THE INCONVENIENCE OF GREATNESS
Greatness. like bigness, Is very incon-
vcnicnt in every direction. IL IL piainiy
very ;nconvenient TO great man nm
self. one of that sort cant do any
thing 20 suit himself. Everything must
be adjusted TO his scale; IN harmony
with his keynote. Magna fortuna mag
ma servitus: great fortune Is great
slavery. And the seryitude 49, hrs'' "
a mans own conception OF his bigness'
and then to what lie takes TO be the I'M
preston he is making on the genera
public. and what the world requires Vi
such an immense affair as he Is: the
"maintaiAing of parity" SO 1t U.s. from
TOP TO toe. within and without, In private
and I'm public, he is strutting ana irel-
ting to act his part and please MS '''aS-
tiers. He walks grandly; he poses ar
tlstically; he rides 10 impress the siue-
walks. and he talks grandiioquehuS
Raw. he eats a la mode. and Yields MS
knife and fork secundum artem' vi
else he will play the lion or Dru'e' a"u
roughly walk over all the decehcies anu
proprieties OF genteel life: and ne WI"
not be any freer for that
put greatness is not only utterly op-
posed to the free ana easy ''"'
most of us count a great part OF our
personal liberty; 1t is very hcoh-
venient-nay. even bore-to those WIZ
have the care of tits managers ana
satellites. All full Of its own pighess' II
revolves around it's own axis, and tries
everything by the measure of fitness ana
honor 10 itself and the appreciation Oh
its merits Neither its stimulus or
oppression are agreeable. Ana It's
condescenslons are its bounties ana
largesses. Who ever entertained a
great man that didn't get sick OF II?
How disappointing they are.
A friend of ours once undertook 10 nave
two famous humorists to breakfast with
him. They came and they played mum.
Mother was a gentleman. and that was
"tbe hurnor of it." And their host threw
away his hospitality and his breakfast
Bott-ucklng and toadying never have
paid: And, besides, they are against ma
ture and d dishonor to manhood bor-
rowing Iustre, by giving to the rlch ana
keeping company with the great mas
no flavor of manliness or salvation III IT,
ON the contrary. It 6espeaks want Vi
self-respect and a slavish eaSerhess ior
,,o,,ca Every man is entitled to honor
"a roenect and a begging after others
notorietv suggests. not lowliness' out
conscious meanness and httiehess anu
notwithstanding. Lowliness IS KING
becoming grace, and is the assurance Vi
familiarity with high ideals. y VIKING
moss f. worship a celebrity or notoriey
beeneaks q. common soul, enthralled 10
the vulgar rabble. delighting In It's idie'
envious gaze, feeding on grudging. "hat
n diet Homage TO celebrity or hotofie'y
hoe nothing OF virtue in II. 1t IS
eeldsb and an abiect thing, full OF mis-
giving TO every nature, not wholly aDan-
doned. and it draws upon itself the ven
omous shafts of the multitude anu the
profound contempt Of those who honor
themselves and their nature. Inc Wlses'
of men SAYS: 1t is not good to have re-
spect of persons for. for piece OF preau'
that man will trarsgress. What miser-
able bore is greatness.
When Cardinal Wolsey threw all MS
greatness overheard he felt for the nrs'
time. the blessedness Of being httie'
Down I'm the Vale of Humiliation ana
clear of it all he was not only PROSTATE
before high Heaven, but driven TO the
DEVELOPMENT of the divine resources oil his
soul. the nobleness of his nature hdue
after the image OF God, and INTENDED
for His worship only