The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1907-09-05
CONCERNING ONES DISPOSITION.

There is a species or hypocrisy III NV
concealment of ones disposition, that IS
bv an assumption of manner intended to
give an observer a wrong impression OF
ones character, and yet it is the common
resort of good men as we'll as bad ones.
In the game of life, as in some other
games. it is necessary for the successlui
PLAYER to keep an imperturbable counte-
nance that he may not reveal oy MS
expression the thought that is in his mlnd.
This effort at concealment may not De
positive. but merely intended as measure
of protection against those who would
take undue advantage of frankness. 80
also men of good and generous disposition
may be forced to put on a surly air 10
protect themselves from imposition. inns
kind of hypocrisy is not intended to de-
ceive others, but to protect ones self.
more reprehensible kind of concealment
of disposition is that of the cold, calculating
man, actuated only by selfish motives,
who puts on a sauve and insinuating man.
ner not for his own protection, but that he
may deceive and swindle those with whom
he NAV come in contact. The generous
men who conceal their generosity under
bluff exterior are relatively scarce; the
selfish men who conceal their designs
under genial and pleasant exterior are
quite common. They are apparently sym
pathetic; they are public spirited SO long
as the good of the public requires nothing
more than words, and they very often
succeed in serving some selfish purpose
under the pretense of doing public good.
Such men have brought discredit on many
charitable and reform organizations, for
they recommend themselves for places OF
influence by their genial manner. In spite
of all the experience men may have they
are liable to be fooled, for time at least,
by the Pecksniffs of society. All men
Judge others at first by their manners.
This man is churlish because he is not
cordial in his manner; that man is genial
because he is ELUSIVE in his expressions of
cordial interest in those whom he meets.
After a time, however, the keen observer
learns to differentiate the manner OF a man
from his real disposition and he may then
find that the one whom he supposed to be
churlish has kindly heart, but has never
learned the polite art of conversation or,
knowing himself to be weak, has put on a
churlish disposition to protect himself. He
may also find that the genial man is quite
shallow, devoid of strong sentiment and
able to do nothing more than chatter, or
that he is thoroughly selfish and puts on
the air of geniality that he may the better
accomplish his selfish purposes. The
manner of man, although it serves as the
first index one may have to his character,
is, in fact, no better as an index than his
clothes may be. Like his clothes, it may
be put on or taken off at will. Strictly
speaking the manner of man should
reflect his character; he cannot assume a
manner concealing his disposition without
in a measure, descending to hypocrisy
and yet good men are compelled for their
own protection to keep such control Of
themselves as will shield them from the
Vaccinations of others until they have
learned that in certain company they car
relax the guard and reveal their true dis
positions. All this will be learned by mer
as they gain experience in the world; al
that they need at the outset is warning
to be on their guard not to set down man.
ner as an infallible guide to character ane
disposition.