Nothing favorable to his plans, one may be sure. People point him out. They fly from him, and were he the bearer of the most advantageous proposition, refuse to put any faith in his assertions as soon as they get to know him in the least.
Effrontery may sometimes impose upon the innocent. But it is only a momentary deception, quickly dissipated the moment that time is given to estimate the emptiness of its claims.
There is another variety of effrontery that is comparable to the form of courage exhibited by the timorous who sing in a loud voice in order to lessen their terror and imagine that by so doing they give the illusion of bravery.
People of this sort talk very loudly, often contradicting themselves, and pass judgment upon everything, dismissing the most difficult questions with only a passing thought, but remain silent and are put completely out of countenance as soon as one insists upon their listening to reason, or when--in familiar language--they "meet their match."
The man of effrontery is a passionate devotee of bluff, and not only of that variety of which Jonathan Dick has said:
"It is a security discounted in advance."
"Bluffers of the right sort are only so when the occasion demands it, in order to give the impression that the wished-for result has already been achieved.
"As soon as their credit is assured and appearances have become realities that allow them to establish themselves in positions of security they at once cease the effort to deceive."
"Bluff, to be successful, must never be founded upon puerility or brag."
Now these two qualities are always to be met with in the doings of the man of effrontery, who only achieves by accident the goal he aims at, and then only in the most insecure way.
Drawbacks differing as to their causes, but equally unlucky as to their results, are born of the opposite fault--modesty.
It is high time to destroy the leniency shown toward this defect that old-fashioned educators once decorated with the title of virtue.
Time has forged ahead, taking with it in its rapid course all forms of progress, which, in its turn, has made giant strides.
Ideas have changed materially. Modern life has to face emergencies formerly undreamed of, and those who still believe in the virtue of modesty are their own enemies, as well as those of the people whom they advise to cultivate it.