The Worst Wheel Makes the Most Noise
NEVER was maxim truer than this. Look at that woman, who is always using hard words – who looks upon the gayeties of society with an abstracted air, and wonders that any body, who has any mind, can fix their attention upon trifling games and frivolous conversation. Depend upon it, she would not need to act this farce, if she has real intelligence and information. She is “the worst wheel in the carriage and she makes the most noise.”
Look at that benevolent bustler*, with his eternal schemes, all “excellence for the poor.” Thousands of whom you will never hear, do more good than he. “He is the noisiest wheel.”
Look at the politician, whose days and nights are consumed in anxious cares for the good of “the people,” “the dear people,” “the injured people,” – whose tongue is worn thin with the abuse of the aristocracy, and warnings against their monstrous thirst of power. Have an eye to that man – he will play the tyrant where he can – his democracy is all put on. He is “the very worst wheel in the carriage.”
Look at the lover, kneeling, and sighing, and flattering – his eternal constancy will last but a few months. He too is “a noisy wheel.”
“See the religionist, for whom even the Old Testament is not sufficiently holy reading, - who is always telling the wonderful states of his own mind for the good of others, - whose sleep is disturbed by the idea that ships sail on Sunday. What do you think that man is, when the eye of the world in not on him? “The worst wheel in the carriage makes the most noise.”
Be not too eager to help those who come to you with highly colored pictures of distress, and loud complaints of discouraged industry. The most virtuous among the poor stay at home, and silently struggle with their poverty, so long as it can be struggled with. The worst wheels are ever the noisiest.
Look suspiciously upon those publications, that are continually boasting of “unparalleled success, - “immense number of subscribers,” of being “eagerly sought for by all classes of people?” – Really good publications do not need such practices. If the regiment were all collected, they would not sound the trumpet so loudly. The worst wheel is the noisiest, simply because it is the worst.
Observe that lady, who is so eager in pursuit of the fashions, that her servant must run with his band-box, lest fashion should out-speed him. She cannot endure the sight of vulgarity, and tells you she thinks it extremely unlady-like to know who one is to have for dinner. She uses cologne at the mention of a mechanic; and apologises to you again and again for having any unfashionably dressed person of merit in her rooms. Why does she talk so much about the gentility and rank? Her father was a brick-layer and her husband was once a mason. She is a fool herself; and therefore she supposes others to be fools. “The worst wheel is always the noisiest.”
Lastly, do not judge of a carriage by its noisiest wheel. All the intelligent should not be judged by the pedant: all republicans ought not to be classed with the demagogue; every religionist not a hypocrite; an a few proud and silly women must not condemn the whole world of fashion. When you hear a very noisy wheel, remember it is the worst wheel.
________________________________________
*Bustler - an active, stirring person.