FLEETINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2686, 6 September 1905, Page 87

FLEETINGS.

By T. J. P.

X*ike so many of our English words, '"conceit" has long since lost its original and uncoloured meaning, and has been subjected to that gradual process of specialisation which characterises . the evolution of all modern languages. Originally in all honesty .meaning a wide knowledge, tSie influence of sarcasm has been brought to bear ripon it, until to-day its use has been relegated to those thoughts, words, and actions whose manifestation's are inconsistent with underlying reality. Strange to say, the word 1 itself comes under that category, for is it not the most subtle -of irony? In discussing . this strangely human characteristic- it is -necessary to restrict it to its most limited application, and remove ,it as faiTas- possible -from its numberless tynlHqniioiis^ternas, such a&- affectation, intolerance, pedantry, prudery, vanity, and Perhaps it would be more correct-/ and\ certainly more comprehensive, to consider all tib&e latter qualities as symptoms of th© fundamental' malady, conceit, ratter than as distincCbub* parallel characteristics ;, by so doing we strike- at the roofc oh, the. matter, and; facilitate abstract ,consideration. Conceit is an over-estima-tion^of our own capabilities, which, varies inT intensity according to the proportion of the estimate to tLe actual. In general it may be a conscious failing, but the details of its symptoms ar» for the mosfc - part "unconscious, v ior immediately we are forced to unreservcidly recognise owe deficiency in any quality of which we previously held a higher estimate, conceit with, reference to that quality ceases to exist, or elsa deteriorates into vulgar coasting. How often is the trutlhi o£ this illustrated- in the fact that vre are sometime* j gritesomely conceited -about those things of Whicih know very' little, while "we preserve a Becoming humility in those tbing's in which we ex,oei. In the latter case 'we have by dint of competition realised .our abilities, -and it is no longer necessary to acquaint the world with what .. ire are; but in the former case people lave rot yet recognised -what we ourselves imagine," and the impulse to enlighten them -engenders a ridiculous conceit. Thus' the' disease in its milder arid less obtruBive" form, seems to attack- only --special* pasts" of th© constitutipoi', ,and to • leav« others unimpaired ; bat-, there •ondbubtedly -cases^in_ which ;the whole" moral and -mental -fibre is rotting "away and-" , afcr&phying' voider stress oi this'-all-pervad-." ing canker. The arrows, of 'Circumstance . and' Exj)eri«nce penetrate, but cause no,, > pain;' and' the screaming egodsro of those • paxiahs of" society "drowns the' voices of those who fain would rescue them v To such an. one* only on© 'thing is real — .- eelf; he is tfce centre of ttb.e universe around which all . things in ■ heaven and earth revolve ; he is the chief actor in the drama of life, and the whole world is^ his audience/ He loves- because it enhancesIds prominence ; 'he has friends because they complete the tableau of life of whicih lie is the central figure; be tolerates th»existence of the -worWLso that there may become to gazo s -upc-n the brilliant pageant of his puny life. '■ Fortunately, such ex-, tremists are, rare," or , when they do- exist. they have some redeeming feature which they carry as a passport for their" passage 'through this world. The symptoms of conceit, however, may often be taken for the malady itself. A slight affectation of speech, an extraordinary., manner,, a critical nature, a limdd selfroonsciousness may .have ' behind it a gracefully ; humble temperament and an | entirely receptive- 'mmdl We are not' jostified ia judging, exclusively from external observation, i&r then we set ourselves up to-be masters of the most pro--iound , occult sciences^ Undoubtedly first impressions' are valuable ;i Wi© call them fcstinct^ or wisdom; as distinct from reason, but ire forget that 7 that-instinct is eively "our own, ,snd that our likes • arid, dislikes are the refractions from our. own "idaocyhefasies/rather; tlhan. the amdistorted reflection of fche'"oiliei's nature-. Jiut here vre^ cry, ."What-, is* real? -Show us the true, man !"- -Patience, c and perchance a-, simple,ungonscious .action^MJupremieditated, unrehearsed, like- a- -flash- of lightning, will illumine for a/aaoment the whole' landscape' of Jbhs-souL- —

We are all more or less actors on life's jltage, but -unfortunately not always true to our 'highest conception of the art. In our stylo" of -acting and our choice of play we strive- to cater for the varying tastes' of our audiences, but sometimes we misjudge those tastes. We may b© called Tipoa to play a part , beyond out capabilities; to appreciate tie opportunities or-- else we over-act it. In either case we 'lave, been false to true art ; but it -entirely- depends upon the knowledge and exaction^of the audience wibjebher we are stigmatised or not. On another occasion our efforts may go hand in hand with our personal tastes and natural tcniflencies, and thus with but very little effort ©n our part we are responsible for an artistic performance, for which we receive not altogether merited applause. It is, in life, this necessity to perform at tiroes those parts beyond our apprehension that often causes that false manifestation which is called conceit. So long as two people are entirely sympathetic, and have a_ fair understanding of one another, there is no necessity if or false representation; or, xm i-h/e other hand, if they arc content to limit their intercourse strictly to those- things ■which * interest them in common, little room is left for misunderstanding. iW« see this process of specialisation, frequently in the affinity of man for man. ttbtus lie may have a sporting friend, a business friend, a literary friend, a relijgious friend, or a friend congenial to any ether of his numerous pursuits. Each one as kept distinct, however; he never troubles his sporting friend with religious discussion, nor does he discourse with his

business friend upon literature. Strange to say, we are apt to expect more widespread sympathy and interest from friends of an opposite sex from our o\r.n, and when we attempt, to generalise in this way we are met by revolting discord. Thus men go through the world chang- 1 ing the stereoscopic views of their own nature, and manipulating the focus to suit the eyes of various spectators. One man gauges accurately and becomes a hypocrite, another overdoes it and is branded with conceit, another falls short- and is called an ignoramus, another strives to alter his natural position as little as possible and becottias an obnoxious egoist. We may well be- justified in saying with him, who has termed himself a lord of language : "Most people are otfher people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."