Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-12-30

e-s-U anu an attitnOe that re-
veal, | know not what, that is bellig-
erent It's example drives us away
instead of drawing us to them. and
those whom this virtue deigns to hon
or with it's benefits feel as if they had
received a blow.
Let us sum up and conclude.
1t is an error to think that our ad
antages, whatever they are, should he
put to the service of our vanity Each
one of them constitutes for him who
enjoys it an obligation and not an
object for Standardization The ma
terial goods. power, knowledge and
the qualities of the heart and mind
become as many causes of discOrd
when they serve to nourish pride.
They are only beneficent when they
remain subjects of modesty for those
who possess them. Let us be humble
if we possess much, because that
proves that we are debtors. All that
man has he owes to some one, and
are we sure of being able to pay our
debts?
Let us be humble if we are vested
with some important function and IL
we hold in our hands the fate of 9th
ers, for it is impossible that a clear
seeing man does not feel himself I'M
der such grave duties.
Let us be humble if we have many
acquaintances, for they serve us but
the better to authenticate the great
ness of the unknown, and to compare
the little that we have discovered by
ourselves with the mass of what we
owe TO the Mains of others
In sum, let us be humble above all,
If we are virtuous, because no one can
better feel his defects than he who
has been drilled, and more than any
one he should feel the need of being
indulgent to others, and to suffer for
others who are doing wrong.
And what do you do with the neces-
sary observation-disclosures one may say.
With so much simplicity are you not
going to efface that sentiment of dis
lance which it is necessary to main
tain for the proper working of So
ciety?
| am not of the opinion that it
would be well to suppress the dis
tances and distinctions. But | think
that what distinguishes a man is not
found in grade in function. neither in
the uniform, nor in the fortune, but in
him alone. More than any other epoch,
ours has torn away the vanity of
purely external things. To be some
one now it does not suffice any longer
to wear the mantle of an emperor or
a royal crown. What good would it
serve to wear gold lace, have a coat of
arms, or a ribbon? Certainly, eX-
ternal signs are not to be condemned,
they have their signification and their
utility, but on condition that they
cover something and not emptiness.
The day when they mean nothing they
becomes useless and dangerous. The
only way to distinguish ones self is
to be better. If you wish that the So
cial distinctions, so necessary, so re-
spectacle in themselves, should be eff
fectually respected, you must first
make yourself worthy Of them. Other
wise you will contribute to making
them hated and despised 1t is thing
unfortunately too certain that respect
is at low ebb with us. and it is GER
tainly not the fault Of the distinc.
tions suitable to mark what they wish
| SlOulu ne TeSpeCleu. he CduSe VI
the evil is in the belief that high po-
sition exempts him who occupies II
from observing the current duties OF
life. In lifting ourselves we believe
that we are lifted above the law. And
so we forget that the spirit OF modes
ty and obedience should grow with
the occasion. 1t results that those
who demand the most respect for
their charge do the least to merit it.
That is why respect Is diminishing.
The only distinction necessary is
this which consists in the desire to be
better. The man who tries to be.
come better becomes more humble
more adorable. and more familiar
even with those who owe him respect
But as it gains by being better known
hierarchy loses nothing, and it reaps
all the more respect where 1t sowed
the least pride.