The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-04-07
ALL MANKIND IS VAIN
SOOTHING BALM FOR MANY
WOUNDS IN VANITY.
Uncle Hiram Warns His Nephew Not
70 Mistake SeIf-Esteem for Self
1ellef-Homely Men Think
Themselves Handsome.

"Stevey, my boy, said uncle Ill
ram to his hopeful young nephew.
there's a terrible difference between
vanity and self-belief.
"I've known plenty of men who
were fairly saturated, soaking with
vanity, but who didn't have real cour-
age enough to scare away cat.
They thought they were the hand
soonest men alive: but there were
plenty Of homely men that they'd let
walk right over them. They had no
snd of vanity. but no real self-belief.
"As matter of fact. Stephen, l think
you are about as homely young
chap as know; but it doesn't fol-
low from that that you're rugged.
And as far as that goes l never yet
knew a homely man but what
thought he was handsome; and that
thought does man no harm unless
ae let's his vanity satisfy him so that
he's content to rest on that without
further effort.
Our vanity Is soothing balm for
many wounds; it helps us much to
bear LIES buffetings. When some
body treats us rudely we say to our
selves we know what he is and we
know what we are, and humph! and
20 on; and under such evaporation
our vanity is very soothing to us, and
that's all right.
"And there are millions and mill
iOpo NJ pooplo Ctovov uho novor GOT
anywhere in the world because they
haven't got it in EN-, but who still
are vain; people who never get a
chance. and who wouldn't try If they
did get one, because they are too
timid, but who still are filled with
vanity, vanity that is to them bless
Ing, for it Is all they have or ever
will have; and these may be, you un-
derstand. good. hard working people,
good people; the only solace they
have is their own harmless vanity.
But 1t is great solace; it makes life
easier for them and it makes them
hopeful, cheerful.
Sometimes when I think of It
think our vanity Is our greatest bless
ing, and l am not sure now but what
It is so. Good thing to remember.
Stephen, that all men, all men. are
vain. Every man, whatever his lot in
life, high or low. is vain and easily
wounded. Never wound anybody,
Stephen.
$50 l. have no objection to your be-
ing vain. Stephen. You may think
you are handsome If you want to or
you may admire your own clothes or
your neckties; you may think you're
the finest fellow on earth; but don't
mistake your vanity for self-belief.
Above all things you want really to
believe In yourself, and this belief
must be not mere fancy. 1t must
be a true, rugged. 100 per cent plus
belief. something very different from
vanity; 1t must be real belief that
inspires you to do things and that
sustains and fortifies you: that in
vigorates and constantly strengthens
you in whatever you undertake.
And you must do things. You can't
be content to sit down and admire
yourself. You must butt into things
and buck EN-, and II you're thrown
on ono side advance on the other.
growing bigger and stronger all the
time with the exercise of your
strength grown invincible: finally in
your blood, tissue and bone belief In
In yourself.
That's what you want, Stevey,
whole hearted. thorough. complete,
100 per cent plus belief in yourself;
with that you'll get on In tho world
and have . little time left over to
indulge In harmless vanity"