Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-09-28

BY Rev. oIin s-ott Roche.

I
There are three distinct forms under
which pride" commonly displays it
seIf-pride of birth, pride of intellect,
pride of riches.
We naturally would suppose that
pride of birth" would be confined to
such countries and places rs are under
the dominion of kings and emperors,
where nobility of birth carries with it
the added dignity of place and power.
But such is not the ease. for we may
find ii as clearly defined and as strong
ly developed in democratic America
as in the effete monarchies of the old
world.
We frequently meet with people of
meager attachments, brusque manners
and vulgar bearings, who yet are filled
with naughty assurance protesting TO
be descended from illustrious ances-
tors. And how. sad. often, is the con
trast between the profession and the
insignificant individual who makes it.
Unless such claims have the support
of. unusual grace. goodness and virtue
they are more foolish and absurd than
those of the forlOrn old woman Of
whom Hawthorne writes. whose sole
title to gentility consisted in a few
rusty silk dresses and her recollection
of having formerly thrummed harpsi-
chord, danced a minuet and worked an
antique tapestry stitch on her sampler
If the knowledge of gentle birth i'm
pels men to initiate noble deeds of hon
orable ancestors-to uphold virtue and
triumph over yice-then, asSuredly. its
power need not be ignored. But unless
this is the ease it is far better to be
honest. upright and Christian. with
out any certain knowledge of ones
parentage, than. while having the blu
est of blood, to be boastful. indolent
and careless of the rights of our fellow
men.
Next there is pride of intellect" An
active and vigorous brain is splendid
endowment. Whoever adds to the
worlds treasury of wisdom is worthy
of honor, but to look down upon our
associates because of such mental en-
dowment is proof of we kness and
must be obnoxious to the Almighty.
Let the wisest man compare the
knowledge he has attained with that
which still lies beyond his grasp or
even his comprehension and he will
be forced to confess himself ignorant
and i'll informed Complete knowledge
is unattainable by any human being.
Why, then should anyone be proud?
The temple of the great goddess
Meth. at Sails in lower Egypt. was
once the center of wisdom for Greece
y nose foremost men in the early days
went thither for their training. and
upon her yelled image was this sig
niticant inscription:
Il am all that was. that is and that
IS to be, and my veil has been lifted
by no man."
Another form of pride arises from
the possessi IN of riches, This is one
of the most ylarinG. offensive and con-
temptible of Ill the exhibitions which
pride makes of itself. 1t shows itsel
most frequently in the desire to assume
grea~ state and dignity. 1t is even
happy f it can arouse jealousy. To
deur, to wear fine clothes. to fare
sumptuously, to own yacht. private
car, to command an army of servants.
to outdo ones eighbors-sureiy tdls
does not seem like a very high amOt-
ton, yet it invariably fosters pride
There undoubtedly are rich persons
who are an honor and an ornament to
society, who are liberal. conscientious,
thoughtful and beneicent; but there
are others who care only for their own
pleasures and prominence-avaricio
to the last degree. utterly inconslder-
'ate OF their fellow men, their joys, sor-
rows or suffermgs.
You recall the incident narrated to
illustrate the condition of society in
France before the awful revolution,
and which produced that catastrophe.
An aristocrat whose carriage had
crushed the life out of child. stopped
his horses for n moment, tossed n gold
coin to the father of the dead child
and drove on. But the coin was flung
after his carriage, and rang upon its
floor. Hold the horses" cried the
aristocrat. who threw that?" There
being no answer, he shouted: You
dogs l would ride over any of you
very willingly and exterminate you
from the earth"
Possibly this incident will recall
some of the accidents that occur in
our city. Certain it is that some among
our rich are becoming scornful and
overbearing They should take heed.
pride goeth before destruction and
naughty spirit before fall"