The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1916-08-17
Making a Good Appearance.

We suppose it is only natural that
we should try to keep up appearances
as far as possible and to certain de-
gree the impulse is one that should
be encouraged because we are un-
doubtedly judged, at least from a
worldly standpoint, by the appear
ance we present. Of course such a
standard of valuation is unfair and
should not be allowed to influence
those who assume the duty of pass
ing upon our merits or dement's but,
however, that may be, it is one that
is largely followed and custom is an
arbiter from whose judgments there
is but slight appeal. The desire to
look as we'll as we can is Unborn in
the human breast. To some it's ap-
peal is slight but to others its infiu-
ence dominates life and amounts to
an obsession. 1t is these latter per-
sons who not being satisfied with
making a good appearance within
their means soon reach the danger
point of attempting to appear bet
ter off than they are. 1t is this point
which proves the downfall of many
persons who otherwise would prob
ably prove to be worthy citizens. The
desire of keeping abreast of their
particular circle seems to them to
call for the necessity of going a lit
tie beyond the effort of simply max
ing good appearance, and they at
tempt to dress as we'll, to live as
we'll and to enjoy life generally as
much as those who are better able
to do these things. 1t seems easy
enough at first to incur greater re-
sponsibilities than we are accustom-
ed to, but after a while we learn
from sad experience that the danger
which seemed so far off is very real
indeed, and we are obliged to pay a
price far beyond the satisfactions we
so ardently desired.
This is the trouble with most of us
at times; we do not realize when we
are approaching the danger point in
the effort to appear better off than
we are. We believe that we can oc-
casionally allow ourselves a luxury to
which we are not accustomed, but the
trouble is that having experienced
the pleasures attendant upon this re-
taxation from our necessarily moder-
ate manner of living we are likely
to relax more and more until we find
that we set ourselves a pace which we
cannot afford. This is the danger
point, of course, but few of us have
the moral courage to recognize it
when we reach it. Instead, we put
off meeting the issue squarely and
try to salve our consciences with the
expectation that something will hap
pen to extricate us from our difficult
ties. How seldom such happy
means of escape offers itself is we'll
known to anyone who chooses to read
the signs but, even in the light OF
such knowledge many of us continue
the hopeless task of trying to delude
others as we'll as ourselves into the
belief that. we are really better off
than we are. We owe something to
ourselves, of course, in the matter OF
good appearance as we'll as in other
details Of material life but, certain
ly not to the extent of jeopardizing
our happiness, to say nothing of our
physical welfare, by attempting to
deceive others as to our real condi-
ton.
To appear in all circumstances and
under all conditions in the best pos
sible light is worthy ambition; to
try to appear better off than we are
is a false standard of living.