The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-09-11
VANITY.

by LADY COOK nee Tennessee tLAFLiN).
Most people are alive to the imper-
fectlons of others; few, however, . er
ceive their own. To know ones self is
the most difficult of all knowledge.
There are none SO ill-fayored, for in
stance, who will not admire themselves
in 4 mirror, because they see not them
selves, but some ideal individuals, And
with like partiality do we regard the
good and evil qualities which form our
character, always esteeming ourselves,
no matter how despicable we may re-
ally be. Hence vanity is the prcdonl-
nant and universal vice. Thus plus
philosopher said: What blindeth the
eve, or " hat hlIetE the heart of IA man
from himself like vanity? Lo! When
thou seest not thyself, then others dis
cover thee most plainly"
Cogan defines vanity as that species
Of pride which, while it presumcs upon
a degree of superiority in some particu-
lar articles, fondlv courts the applause
Of every one within its sphere Of action;
seeking every occasion to display some
talent or some supposed excellcncy."
Thus vanity is a vain-glory, and arises
from desire to appear wiser, or richer,
or cieverer, than We actually are. and
consequently is Il so,t Of imposture, Of
ten offensive to Others and injurious to
ourselves.
The extraordinary circumstance about
the failing is that it attacks those who
have many est;mable qualities. as we'll
as those who have few or none. Peer
and peasant, lady and waiting-maid, are.
IN their distinctive ways, alike subject
to 1t. and the more actually they are az
feCted by it, the greater is their self
depreciation and loss of genuine esteem.
They may succeed in acquiring the lip
service of parasites and fools, but in do
ing this they must lose the good opin-
ion OF those whose regard alone is wortE.
having.
Hume, the historian, III one Of his
/ ESSAYS, writes on this subject with his
usual power and iuc;dity: a desire Of
fame, reputation, or Il character with
others, is so far from being blameablc,
that 1t seems nscparablc from virtue,
genius, capacity, and Il generous or
noble disposition wherein, then,
consists VANITY, which is so justly re-
g'rded as 4 fault or imperIcction? Ii
seems to consist chiefly i'll such
an Incorporate display of oar advau-
tages, louors, and accomplishments
i'll such an importunItc and open de-
mand OF praise ard admiration, as is
offensive TO others, an | tucruacits too
far on their secret vanity ard ambition.
1t Is besides sure symptom of the
want OF true dignity and elevation of
mind, which Is 80 great an ornament III
any character. For, why that impatient
desire of applause, aS if YOU were not
justly entitled To- it, and might not rGas-
onably expect that it would for ever at
tend you? Why SO anNio'.s TO inform
Us OF the great company which You have
kept; the obliging things which were
said to You; the honors, the distinctions
which you met with; as if these were
not things Of course, and what We could
readily, of ourselves. have imagined,
without being told Of them,"
Montaigne SAYS: The corruption Of
the age is made UP upon the particular
contributions Of every individual man.
One contributes treachery. others in
Justice, irrelIGton, tyranny, ayarice and
cruelty, according a. they axe of power:
the weaker sort contributes iuilv.vauitv,
and idleuess." Tie word vanity IN
eludes within lis meaning all sorts OF
empty delight or frivolous display, al
un>uostantlai pageants and pleasures
whose end Is merely to g~atify weak
pride. and all the little oSteu;atious
which are intended to make others
thlnk ofus more highly than We deserve.
1t i derived from the Anglo->axon
verb tyn-i-ean, 10 wither, Ia fade, to
pass away, 10 faint, or from Wauiau, II
waHe. 10 I;,N away, and thus il denotes
that which las TO substantial basis. but
: IN lis natCre essentially encmesal. de-
il>-ve. and cy-G,Sce4;. ~ ytt IL