Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1888 — Be Yourself. [ARTICLE]

Be Yourself.

Imitation may the sincerest flattery, but it is an undoubted sign of weakness. It is a confession that one can not stand upon one’s own merits, but need’s borrow those of another person or class of persons. Affectation of the old-fashioned sort does not flourish in onr day, and as we read the writings of Miss Edgeworth and other old-time writers, their strictures on the mannerisms of their day show that a very different standard of behavior was then prevalent, especially among women. Sentimentality—even sentiment itself—is now* out of date, and w r e can not reproach our age with any tendency toward over-refinement, or over-deli-cacy of thought and speech. On the whole, our manners are much more frank and natural than were those of our grandparents, and artificiality has no longer as many advocates as formerly. But it must not be forgotten that boldness and brnsquerie can be assumed as well as over-delicacy. Many young persons, ashamed of that shyness and modesty which is to youth w’hat the dowm is to the peach, put on a very brave air, and assume a forwardness and a nonchalance w’hich make the judicious grieve, and which, be it added, deceive very few’ people.— New York letter. .