THE VANITY OF GENIUS.

CHAPTER I.

shades and of

vanity.

IT is difficult to decide on a title for this Various talk; no one word expressing the idea, for types words as well as characters have such a variety of shading in their meaning. Selfconsciousness, vanity, undue estimation or proper estimation unduly blazoned, colossal conceit that is simply laughable, a statement of one's superiority that all are willing to acknowledge, but somewhat too ponderous and egotistic for everyday life, a full realization of genius; all these types must be mentioned and illustrated.

the humblest

Who can wonder at conceit in the Immor- Conceit in tals when it is so largely displayed in the ranks. humblest ranks? Who has not met persons of most moderate attainments weighted with such an overpowering conceit that we

could only stare, smile, and succumb? I recall a semi- or two-third idiot who, for reasons of family friendship, was allowed to draw a modest salary as porter in a large wholesale store, while others did most of the work. His face was at once repulsive and ridiculous; a forehead of unnatural height, eyes crossed and vacant, an immense nose, teeth of the horse variety, a lank, loose-jointed, ungainly figure, and a shambling, knock-kneed gait! Yet this unfortunate object, this being that you pitied so sincerely, had a tremendous amount of conceit. He would gravely sit and recount his usefulness, his advice to the head of the firm, suggestions which saved the establishment from ruin; and his whole air and conversation gave the impression that he felt he was wasting his time on a most inferior set of people out of pure kindness to those so far below him in insight and business saConceit de- gacity. Such illusion is a blessing. And a certain amount of conceit or conviction of capacity, properly concealed, is absolutely necessary for success and comfort. "Talk about conceit as much as you like," says Dr.

sirable if not necessary.

epigram on

Holmes, "it is to human character what salt Dr. Holmes' is to the ocean; it keeps it sweet and renders conceit. it endurable."

The world is so hurried and worried, so occupied with its own affairs, that it cannot stop to supply timid talent with props and bolsters, or coax modest worth out of her corner. The advice of Horne Tooke was profound: "If you wish to be powerful, pretend to be powerful."

at their own

People are generally taken at their own People taken estimate, and cheerful, consistent self-ap-estimate. preciation should not be condemned. The Rev. Dr. Cuyler felt this, when, speaking lately of the charge of egotism brought against Joseph Cook, he said: "He has no more egotism than every truly great man, who has taken his own measurement, and who speaks out the truths which God has given him to utter." Daniel Webster was not an egotist when he said in the Senate: "When any man drives me from this position, then let him talk of discomfiture—and not till then." Nor was the great Apostle an egotist when he exclaimed-"They glorified God in me."

Few realize how well they do think of themselves until it is brought out by an adroit student of human nature, or by skilful flattery, but almost every human being, high or low, is vulnerable on that point. For instance, some Frenchmen who had landed on the coast of Guinea, found a Vanity of a negro prince seated under a tree, on a block negro prince. of wood for his throne, and three or four negroes, armed with wooden pikes for his guards. His sable majesty anxiously inquired: "Do they talk much of me in France?"

Scottish

driver and

And I recall a story of a Scottish driver the Duke of of pigs, who was led on by a waggish EngWellington. lishman to talk of himself. At last, it was

boldly stated by this wicked fellow that the driver was in fact a greater man than the Duke of Wellington! The stupid lout scratched his thick head, and, with a satisfied expression, replied: "Aweel, Wellington was a great mon, and verra smart in his own way; but I doot-I doot, if he could ha driven seven hundred pigs fra Edinboro to Lonnon-and not lose one-as I ha done!"

servations.

Vanity has taken so firm hold in the Pascal's obheart of man," says Pascal, "that a porter, a headman, a turnspit, can talk greatly of himself, and is for having his admirers." And he goes on to say that the very frogs find music in their own croaking, and that the look of self-satisfaction on the face of a croaking frog is scarcely to be matched in nature. This so disgusted the saintly Pascal, that it is said he wore a girdle of spikes which he pressed into himself whenever he was conscious of vanity.

Sidney's re

his riding

How much truth Sir Philip Sidney ex- Sir Philip pressed in the sentence: "Self-love is bet- flections and ter than any gilding to make that seem gor-master. geous wherein ourselves are parties.” This truth, he says, was "driven into him" by the daily bragging of his riding-master. "When the right virtuous E. W. and I were at the Emperor's court together, we gave ourselves to learn horsemanship of Gio. Pietri Pugliano-one that, with great commendation, had the place of an esquire in his stable; and he, according to the fertileness of the Italian wit, did not only afford us the demonstration of his practice,