Evening star., 1932-08-05
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES Z. TRACEFELL.

second, high estate, or estimation: third,
ONCE. rank or title; fourth, elevation
Of manner, proper stateliness.
The first and the fourth Of these are
the most interesting.
Every human being with any concep-
ton at all of ethical conduct feels that
he possesses certain inherent worth, OF
excellence.
After he comes to this conclusion, the
remainder of his life is spent IN trying
TO make other people accept him at MS
own valuation.
Perhaps in nine hundred and ninety
nine cut of every thousand cases, hu-
manity fails in this mission, not only
because too often the valuation Is en-
tirely too high to be accepted. except
by a few, but often because the person
mainly concerned does not possess the
precise combination OF factors which
will enable him to convince others.
There are few fortunate men who
from childhood seem to know just what
to say and what to do to get others to
accept them at their own value, their
face value. as one might say.
Often they are aided by nature, which
has lowered them with what the world
of men calls good looks" On the other
hand, there are cases known to every
one OF huge successes, as Such things
60 made by miserable looking speci-
mems, both physically and facially.
The mystery of why some succeed
and some do not has never been solved.
and it probably never will be in a world
where every human being has to begin
all over again from scratch.
There is true dignity, and there is
false dignity. Every one has known
some pompous fellow who emulated the
airs Of some old-time Senator and sue
ceeded in putting himself over" in
certain times and places.
He was "dignified," yes, but not in the
best sense.
The best dignity is that real worth
which exists, whether Others know 1t
or not it must remain the secret salts
faction of all the millions Of people who
fail to have the spotlight" of public
recognition turned upon them.
The next best dignity Is that eleva-
ton of manner which visibly baspeaks
proper pride Of a human being in
himself.
This is not dependent upon clothes,
although they play their part 1t is SIM
ply easier for most people to be dig
nlfied when they are well dressed; 1t
is easier for them to impress others
those others who so often Judge Of
character from outward appearance,
having no ability in themselves to pene-
trate into mind and heart.
There Is something appealing about
the dictionary definition. of "a proper
stGteliness." Yes, that is dignity, of a
sort.
1t means that one has eschewed
juvenile f1ightiness. and taken ones
side in the ranks of the serious. since
Adams day, who have looked upon
life and found that, while it Is well,
since it cannot be helped. thole are
many unexplained matters in it.
A certain amount of dignity, or
proper stateliness in demeanor and con-
duct, as worked out by civilization over
the centuries, is an essential of in
telligence.
1t shows that one is, like the early
Christians, in protest against the world
as it is constituted, and unable to re-
gard this vast whirl as anything set
tied, or anything but vast problem to
be solved somewhere else, not here
Dignity is the Surest index Of this
feeling, that is why religion is dignified
Divine services of a light. or even
frivolous nature, are a misnomer. be-
cause they contain none of that es-
sential ingredient, dignity.
Dignity is good thing, and one
which ought to be its own reward.
One may present it freely to the world.
If able, and desirous, but If it is not
accepted, do not worry. Here. better
than most places, one may be too proud
to fight.