KEEPING UP APPEARANCES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5184, 2 November 1877, Page 3

KEEPING UP APPEARANCES.

(From the Fireside.) It is politic always to have the appearance of success. No matter how you are out at the elbows metaphorically, contrive to wear a good coat. No matter how burdened is your spirit, keep a cheerful countenance. For once let the world know that you are not prospering, and the kindhearted community, instead of banding together to give you a decided and substantial help, will as much as possible keep out of your way; and by the time the last moment comes, there is no one standing by to answer your troubled cry. This of course mainly relates to those whose lack of success has come through no fault of their own. Often during a general depression of trade ; from the competition of a locality better favored to carry on a particular business ; from an unlooked-for change in the business itself, a man may find himself in low water. It is then, as far as strict integrity will permit him, that while he is hoping to mend his prosperity, he must not present to those about him the appearance, at any rate, of failure. And it is just here that the mighty power of a “ kept soul” declares itself ; for a man whose anxieties are bounded by the horizon of to-day, and who has so been schooled in dependence on God that he can let to-morrow care for the things of itself—he it is who can wear a serene, though not a careless or deceptive look, while his horizon hangs about him with dark and heavy clouds. This “keeping up of appearances” is a matter of very questionable propriety to some, but the doubtfulness of it in any particular case may as a rule be readily decided by the motive which induces the attempt. When, under dangerous circumstances, a doctor keeps a cheerful countenance which certainly does not reveal his real opinion, who would venture to blame him ? because we know his motive is to impart hopefulness to his patient, which is a far better physic than any he can prescribe. Or when a serious accident or the outbreak of a fire has been discovered on board a ship, the captain puts his good-natured face for an instant into the ladies’ saloon, and with a smile assures the frightened inmates that “ all will soon be right,” his motive is excellent, and he keeps up appearances without betraying the truth ; for he hopes that the result will be as lie has said. He does not do wrong that good may come, but the very safety of the ship depends upon the orderly and rapid movements of the crew, which he well knows would be impeded if the ladies were aware of the real state of things and the possible danger : hence his assurance is the best means at bis command for keeping in discipline and order the most unruly part of his cargo, and he hopes and believes that with this and other precautions, “all will soon be right.” Everything is measured by its motive ; so, if the motive be true and clearly just, the appeai-ance assumed may be justified.