Norwich bulletin., 1917-02-24

(writtsn Specially for The Bulletin)
 Beware, hly brefhref., of .self-conceit.
 It isy the farmers besetting sin.
 Nc, don't mean vanity There's 5
 wide difference between vanity and
 self -conceit- I am well aware that some dictionaries givo them as practical
 synonymss -,nake- one definition cf
 the other. But even in words which nre c1assed as SynonyIias. there are
 shades of difference. ~ = Vanity. is rather. a womanish than
 a mannish vice. It has more to- do with appearances than with actuali- .ties; manifests itself more generally in ribbons and laces and face powders. Is commonly born of desire to please md to be thought pleasing. to attract attention and to win compliments.
 Moreover, those of us mere males
 who have attained to years of discre- lion know that it is neither ameifora- tive nor strategical to criticisc femt- nine foibles. There are too many EliV-
 CTS in our own eyes to fit us for ex- 4racting notes from others vision.
 don't remember ever knowing farmer, past the calf-age. who could justly be accused of vanity If he ever had a toRch of the ailment. his first experience getting manure cut of the hog-yard cured him. Indeed, the
 tendency is apt to be quite the other Way-towards -carelessness of personal 1hppearances and neglect of dress, ra- -9her than hnicky fastidiousness about the niceties of ones makeup How Dften, for instance, would the average farmer have his hair cut if his wife or his daughter or some other observing woman didn't tell him. about once in sKo often. that he was getting to look sStdisgraeeful2 2'' How often would he -iehine his boots, if warning wasn't eiven from similar quarters that he'd stoolz like a, booro if he didn't?
 It woUd be a hard matter, in any aGathering of real farmers. to find one -T- them much thought or ever considered them as anything more than -protec- 2 tions against, the weather. If such a .one were actually found. 1t wouldn't had fixed him up' before starting and that he didn't himself know whether his necktie was tied or net Or, per haps, even whether he had one on. , Nc, after. the farmer has really set tied down into the workaday habits of a working life. he isn't apt to give much thought to mere adornment. On the contrary, he is apt to pay less <heed to his own personal appearance than he, might. in consideration of others. His proper work is with the dirt and in the dirt. That is the crude ore out of which he must bring to light the treasures of field and gar den He can't regard the polish of his boots or the manicuring Of his nails or the crossings of his leg garments above the demands of his occupation. He must ''do" things rather than @@Iool6' things, Thus. gradually, he is apt to get into a state of mind which regards mere appearance as utterly unworthy of thought or care. Perhaps this is a mistake. But
 It is often very hard to keep the ex- hct middle of the road even with the best intentions.
 Self -conceit is rather a matter of ene's opinion of himself than of a de- sire for others good opinions or ad-
 While vanity Is a. foible. a peccadnlo. a fraiIty, if you will, self-coneeit comes dangerously close to being a Sice. And harmful vice. at that For It tends so to infiate mans idea of -l1is own wisdom and his own capacity and his own accomplishments as to leave no bathroom for expansion in -hew and perhaps promising directions. Recall Gratiano's famous description of a man Dressed in an opinion Of wisdom, gravity, profound conceit; As who should say. T am Sir Oracle, And when ope my lips let no dog If yoIl will take hold of yourself and turn the calcium light of keen obser- Nation upon yourself, you'll very soon