( 166 ) 
Affectation. 
JTFFECTATIOFT, which, being the very contrary of Christian sim- 
J-L plicity, is an awkward and a forced imitation of what should be 
genuine and easy—wanting the beauty that accompanies what is natural— 
generally arises from incipient, often from full-grown, vanity. 
In a man it is simply contemptible, because effeminate; and the 
youth who purposely lisps or minces his words, or the unnaturally solemn 
man who looks you through as if he were casting up your little account of 
sin for you, are too obviously affected to retain long the respect of sensible 
people. 
We know that nature has its many failings to he curbed, but we 
should also know that where nature is not at fault, it is more truthful and 
wise to let it have its run. 
By the side of the affected man, even the bluntest looks noble, for the 
very reason that affectation arises from, a want of self-respect or excess of 
■self-esteem. For all affectation proceeds from the supposition of possess¬ 
ing something better than the rest of the world possesses. ~No one is vain 
of possessing two legs and two arms, because that is the precise number of 
either sort of limb which everybody possesses. 
The affected individual is always full of self-consciousness, and this 
is simple vulgarity. 
A truly polite person is too busy in considermg the comfort and wel¬ 
fare of others , to devote much time to thoughts of-a purely selfish character. 
