New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-28
LESSONS.
II.
ON SELF-ESTEENI.

The passage OF English literature on which am
&c base my lecture this morning. dear friends. is
one which should come home to the heart OF every
one of US. It's central thought is only TOO likely
TO be neglected even by the learned, If they have
not mastered that great lesson OF humility which
be made the basis OF all good learning and
good thought 1t is a hard lesson to gain II is
enc Of those which we hear over and over again
and always think how pointed, how forceful. how
overwhelming It is. as directed against neigh
Dor, yet never apply 1t to ourselves all the while
that neighbor Is unblushingy hearing it and
applying Well is IT for that a great
poet has embalmed the lesson in immortal verse
that II may be constantly held before to take
when we will. be It or late But that we be
not too late let take the warning 10 heart at
once. The poem TO which I refer is this
Little Jack Horner sat in the corner,
Eating a Christmas pie.
He put in his thumb and took out plum
And said: What good boy am l.!
The work, It is true. is snort. II has that
brevity which is the soul OF wisdom well OF
wit. Yet it IS enough for US to consider here
gether and for each OF consider when he
IS next alone in his closet The is set before
wildly and concisely that do need
to enlarge upon II. Indeed 70 do would but in
jure its perfection of simplicity. It is but back
ground for the thought OF the poem. which thrusts
itself upon simultaneously and forces recOgni-
ton from the dullest. The self-esteenn. the self
eonceit the arrOgance-Iet call il by its
name-the fatuous self-sufHciency OF the person
who is the subject OF this poem. looms up large
IN the glowing words OF the author chat il is only
after a moment OF silent thought and scrutiny
that we can discuss the elements which have al
ready made up the picture for every one OF
We shall waste time In discussing the Ques-
ton which has long divided English from Amer
lean critics OF this poem. whether II really
pie or a tart which little lack Horner was eating
II Is a superficial matter, which does not reach
what may call the soul OF the poem. We may
leave II to the wranging or those critics who
make subjects OF controversy where they ind
none, and those overzealOus enthusiasts who
constantly read into the lines OF author mean
ings which he intended.
To the trained reader the first thought prompted
by this poem is perhaps the curious fact that It's
hero-or rather. It's subject. for he is no hero-ate
his pie in a corner. instead or at a table II
might be supposed thar. account OF the intcler
able seIf-assertion OF his disposition, he was not
Allowed 10 come TO the table: and that IN a blunt
way would be not Improbable Interpretation.
But We shall that the author had a far deeper.
finer and more Impressive meaning than this when
he penned those graphic words: sat In the
corner"
The great warning which the poem contains is
against the inordinate self-esteem OF this Jack
Horuer What a good boy To- he exclaims.
Is not this enough Is not every ethical consid-
Grafton. every feeling OF deHcacy. OF good taste OF
dsesney outraged BY such declaration thisf