I think the point of the essay was that the affect that some modern readers interpret as arrogance or even phoniness was actually a sly humor. If you see his wo

I think the point of the essay was that the affect that some modern readers interpret as arrogance or even phoniness was actually a sly humor. If you see his work as a prescriptive how-to, you'll see his writing one way, but if you see it as winking, wry social commentary you'll read it another. That's not to say that this essayist's point of view is "correct," but I found it to be an enlightening point of view.