The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-02-27
THE WORTH OF MooEsTY

The writer was once In company with
a band OF college students, when the
subject oil their conyersation was, who
or what did they most admire7'' She
was much impressed when O young man
remarked, "of all people In the world, I
like a modest man."
Here was food for reflection. IL 4, ex-
pected that q woman should be nodest-
but Tor a man 70 assume such a mama
was something new to the writer.
But nothing IL more worthy OF eultiva-
ton than simple and unprctending man
ners. Hardly anything else is 40 attrac-
tive. Modest behavior wins frisnds.
while pomposity and pretensions drive
them on Aodesty is not a weakness.
tho many young men seem to think 90.
On the contrary, IL is perfectly compati-
Die with strength and as matter OF fact
is generally found in men of uncommon
ability and force Of character.
Aodesty is not self-disparagement. but
rather the appraising ourselves st our
true value. The derivation OF the word
Is instructive. Ii comes TO us from the
Latin and is derived from modus. a
measure. and 30 comes 20 mean the meas-
uring faculty. kodesty, therefore, means
not underestimsting ourselves, but cor
rectly estimating ourselves.
IL avoids seli-disparegsment on the
one hand and on the other 10 prevents us
ffom thinking more highly OF ourselves
than we ought to think"
Aodesty is not to be confounded with
dithdence or bashiulness. Difiidence 4
self -distrust- The diffident man IN sither
ignorant OF his powers or distrustfui OF
them, and 50 shrinks from undertaking
what be may be perfectly competent to
perform. The modest man iz neither ia-
norant nor distrustful OF his powers. bat
he does not vaunt himself because OF
them and Is not pulled up. Sir. Isaac
Newton solved one or two problems that
no other human intellect could solve.
But, as Ruskin says. be did not on that
account ex pect all men to fall down and
worship him. He was modest vithnl
and likened himself to a boy who had
picked up a few pebbles on the beach.
while the great ocean OF truth lay undis.
covered before him.
Genuine merit Is always modest The
truly great man IL ever the most humbls.
de is aware that for every thing be can
do, there are a hundred things be can
not do that for every thing he knows.
there are thousand things he does not
know. and II heis possessed OF some good
qualities, there are Others be lacks. IQ-
norance alone is vain aud boastful. Ii
is the empty ear OF grain that proudly
holds up its head. When fIled, II bends
modestly downwerd.
The great charm OF all power IL mod
esty. The pomposity OF many people "a
sn attempt TO impose upon the world by
passing Tor more than they are worthy.
lt is due to lear that they viii recsiys no
more attention than their scanty msrits
deserve. Cheek is not an ''fnfirmity OF
noble minds" but affiicts only persons
OF Inferior powers. Ii deserves TO
fail as 1t usually does Brax, at ths
best, can be but very brief substituts
Tor ability. Brass makes q bigger noses
than gold, but IL is gold men are after.
and they commonly Know ft when thsy
see IL. In the long run, every man passes
at his true worth. To try 20 pass for a
person OF greater Importance or ability
than you really are, IL not only absurd
but is also dishonest. Ii Implies deceit.
as well a. eonceit, and Il thereiors q
fatal defect In any character. Pure merit
can not be hid, and needs not to sound a
trumpet before &c. II there is nothing
In you, you cannot by swasger and
bluster cheat the world into believing
that there Is. Therefore it Is best 70
avoid brag, which will bring you down
In the eyes OF those whose good opinion
you most desire. Aodssty 10 beauty's
crown, admirable alike in old and young.
it adds grace to every virtue, and fur
nishes the finest setting In which ability
OF any kind may shine.
Verona c. Boors,
Spotsyivanis.