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Unappreciated
Under this head there seems to be two classes viz: The unappreciated and those who do not appreciate.
The first class appear to be the most numerous. It is certainly not a pleasant thought if we have genius,
that the world refuses to recognize the fact. To shoulder a musket in the army when we have enlisted
to wear the start of a general is hard; and we are often obliged to follow where we thing we ought to
lead, therefore we are not appreciated.
There is danger of too high an estimate of our ability, we often confound the aiming at a mark with
hitting it, thus failing to merit a high estimate of our ability. We do not enter the avocations of life by
bringing into requisition all the zeal the energy and the powers of our being but ask for harvests without
plowing or serving, wages without thought or work.
Are there not many of us who sometimes think others are in our places, that we have been overlooked
and that positions intended for us to fill have been usurped by others? The world may be very slow to
find us out, we may seek for place and may not find it, but if we are truly worthy we will be found at last.
But, of one thing we may be assured that whether we are found or not the world will move on today
and tomorrow and forever. Great men only have climbed to imperial heights by slow, hard and patient
toil. It is the only sure, safe and successful path through which all must travel in order to gain
prominence. We are often too ready to conclude that because we are not in affluent circumstances we
are shorn of certain privileges in society, and this seems to be the case more especially with the female
sex. This ought not so to be; it is possible for the poorest the humblest in this glorious land of freedom
to outshine in beauty of character the glittering gold of the millionerre (sic.); it is not in gaudy dress or
sparkling pearls, but in the culture of the mind and the heart that we are brought into prominence
before the world.
We sometimes think that our opportunities have passed by and with sincere regret look back and wail
and lament over neglected duties and wasted privileges when you, yea even wish that we were a
“robust boy” at fifteen or a rosy cheeked girl at “sweet sixteen”, with what energy and determination
would we enter upon the work before us; forgetting all the while that all of us were girls and boys once
and did not then think of it. The future is before us, many of us perhaps have not lived out half our days
and if we have neglected our youth let us begin now and by faithful hard and earnest work endeavor to
retrieve our loss.
We would not have you believe that all talent comes to the front, that all persons may be brought
prominently before the world; for it is possible that,
“Full many a gem of purest ray serene
The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen
And waste its sweetness on the desert air”.
We shall now attempt to say something about that class who do not appreciate. It must be a great
comfort to some failures that the fault rests not with them but us; for surely it is a strong proof of
smallness of brains on our part that we can not rise up to the sublime appreciation of this world’s
Transcribed by Joy Ickes Denison, August 2013
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heroes – these poets, politicians, lawyers, doctors and philosophers all kept down because we don’t
appreciate them, well, if we hav’nt (sic.) the ability to appreciate, then that ought to be the end of it; for
surely no man is responsible beyond his actual capacity. We very often fail to appreciate real merit,
because of inattention or a certain dislike, whereby we do not suffer ourselves to become interested,
conseqnently (sic.) we are not benefitted. Perhaps the fault lies at our own door and if we can not
appreciate, we should at least have the goodness to allow our neighbor to hear and enjoy the benefit by
not ignorantly and willfully exhibiting a want of appreciation. Our eyes have pained and our feelings
revolted at young men and ladies too, who not only do not allow themselves to be interested, but by
talking and laughing to the annoyance of others near them have shown a lack of culture rather than that
of appreciation. It’s an evidence of ill-breeding that ought to be frowned down; it’s a crime that ought
to be punished; it’s shallow and disrespectful and merits the condemnation of all sober-minded good
thinking people.
A studied effort should at least receive our respectful attention, for in no other way are we capable of
rightly judging as to its merits. Because we don’t like the cut of a man’s coat or that he wears a cuff for a
collar or articulates through his breathing apparatus, is no reason why we should not appreciate his
effort, especially if it be logically arranged, showing evidences of thought and study; neither should we
pass lightly upon the studied effort of a lady though we may not admire her beauty or approve the train
she draws after her.
In conclusion, would we be appreciated? Then let us endeavor to prove ourselves worthy of it by
diligent duty and faithfulness.
Would we appreciate? Then let us show it by not only standing out of other people’s way when they are
entitled to the way, but by a manifestation of that esteem and respect which are the true characteristics
of a noble culture.
A.I.
Sidney 8/23/89
Transcribed by Joy Ickes Denison, August 2013
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