The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-22
1t
Seems
to
Me
BY Haywood Broun

Mr.. Hansen relates that young
man who had read The King in
Yellow" and later on The Com
mon Law" wrote to Robert w.
Chambers to ask why he had not
lived up to his early promise.
Mr.. Chambers replied: My dear
sir. please do not take either me or
yourself too seriously"
The purpose Of my sermon would
be to point out the folly and fulfill
ity Of such advice. I can imagine
no more destructive theory than
the one which holds that it is adj
mirable to sell your own stock
short. In fact, hold modesty to
be one of the most deadly virtues.
I speak from the heart as one who
has suffered much from this quail
ity.
Modesty is habit forming. Only
In the last year or so have I been
able to make temporary escapes
from it's deadening influence. I
NCAA U AiAAAAL PCOpAC putting up d
bluff at modesty unless they carry
1t too far A little hint here and
there that you are only a poor
worm does no great damage unless
you manage to convince yourself.
DUT in any case modesty should
- be practiced in moderation.
Three or four years ago when 1 was
a young reporter, ran into a ia
nous British novelist. He had Just
written a book which seemed to me
magnificent. Being at an impress
sionable age, 1 poured my enthu-
siasm at his feet. He listened to
me with fair degree of civility,
but when l was finished, he re-
piled: oh, really! Did you like
that last one of mine? 1 must
tell you in confidence that I
thought it very ordinary. You know
"a writer must live"
The gentleman was being modest
and also exceedingly offensive. I
could have avenged myself either
of his work or plopping him on the
nose. But I was too modest to do
anything but turn on my heel and
walk away.
OF course, 1 have often heard it
said of this one or that, ED takes
himself too seriously" Almost in
variably the reproach is aimed at
somebody engaged in the perform
ance of an effective job. 1t is not
a criticism applied to buds and
failures. There is nothing acct
dental in this state of affairs.
People who think lightly of them
selves never have any difficulty in
inducing the world to accept them
at their own estimate.
MOT for a moment do I con-
IN tend that any one should
walk about the world carrying a
chip upon his shoulder and pro-
claiming: Here is the great I
Am" 1t is not only feasible, but
essential to kid yourself a little.
But first make sure that they
know you are kidding.
I am guilty of many sins along
this very alley. 1t used to be my
practice to pretend that I was a
Broadway butterfly intent only
upon those spots where big spend
ers and late stayerS gather. This
was all joke. My researches into
political economy take up so much
of my evening time that l sup
pose I don't get into a licensed
night club more than three or four
hundred nights in every year.
But l wrote so wildly concern
ing life along the primrose path
that quite a number of readers be-
gan to accept this fantastic por-
trait of Broun the f1aneur as some
thing entirely literal. 1 had failed
to take myself with sufficient seri-
BUSINESS. Naturally after the dam
age was done I Swore off writing
any articles in which l was to APP
pear as careless and irresponsible.
OF late I have been stressing my
undeveloped skill in bookkeeping
and executive leadership.
THERE is still way out. I
Il could shift all my interests in
life and suddenly try to become a
man about town. But even in this
pursuit I would have to take my
self seriously. Beau Brummel
wasn't fooling when he spent all
those hours over a waiStcoat. To
him it was vitality important.
But 1 guess I won't be Beau
Brummel. A number of people
have suggested it to me. but I'm
afraid 1 couldn't take it with suf-
ficient seriousness. have been
in the same job for so long that 1
imagine I had better continue -
go along with it and devote myself
with complete elf-aSSurance to the
task of being great newspaper
man.
I think I hear a little hooking
laughter in the audience. A smile
breaks through my Stalwart inhibl-
ton. I haven't yet mastered the
trick of generous self-approval.
Assuredly it should belong among
my New Years resolutions. Just
try to speak slightingly of me in
1884 and I'll be ready. I've put
in an order to make my hats one
size larger and in addition to con-
struct them as the tallest fedoras
in all the town. I intend to know
my own worth. no matter how
long il takes me to find it.
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