The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-01-25
The Conflict Of Temperaments.
RT T. $. ARTHUR.

lmpElsiye fail 30 comprehend the cool an
reflective; while the latter are alwavs liabl
10 make unjust estimates Of the former. -
We see this every day
Two or three years ago | n ct q frien.
named Halam while ia a state Of consider
able excitement. He is one Of Your quicl
feeling impui-iye men. and as such me.
usually are. hasty IN judgment and stron.
in expression. He came into my office il
a hurried way. bis face hot and hi, manne
nervous.
You look disturbed said.
g. am disturbed" he replied bis ey,
flashing with angry light
that's the trouble" ! incurred
I've just been 10 see Scranton. the
mean. suspicious misery. cOll-hearted
brutal oh rascal ." was answered. with d
look OF disgust not unmingied with charrir
and disappointment
" And the Interview has not been "a Yer,
agreeable one, Judging from your state o
mind"
" II has been anything but agreeable
He treated me with ungentlemanlv rude
ness. I'm so angry can scarcely contain
myselL"
And be walked about the room in that
agitated way we see in Very nervous per-
sons when strongly excited
sit down and calm yourself said in
quick. steady voice
lie sat down.
Now tell me what has happened be-
tween You and Mr.. Scranton There must
nave been some Misunderstanding. Ihave
always found him kind and geutlemanlv-
looking past, as DO, a certain cold abrupt
ness oi manner that has IFS 0risin I'm tenn
permanent.
There was no misundcrstandinra at all Sc
replied Haliam sharply. 1T was case
Oi insulting rudeness Scranton never
lisunders'andS. He's too much oran lei
cie Tor mat II be had been angry and oT
hls guard, ] could have forgiven him. -
Hasiy speeches made when "a mans blood
Is up, can look over. know just what
they meany-how much should Doe treasured
and how much forgiven I'm hasty NV self
But. your cold-bl0Odel. sel-noised. in-o-
lent people. who never lose seli-cOmmani
amt always mean Just what they saw.
can abide. And Scranton is Just such
man.
" But you haven't given me the head and
front of his offending Yet. said 7. WHY
did you call on him p"
90 Not to ASK a favor for myself YOU may
be well assured"
So you went to ask a favore"
Yes"
And your request was denied
" l was inSulted ."
His eyes again flashed with rekindlng
anger"
" In what wav,"
d" TAe story is soon told. / called 10 ask
his aid in making up q subscription"
" For what purpose"
" To give poor woman a start in bus
mess"
Who is she?"
" Her name is Milton"
" What OF her." inquired
" met her only recently. but her case
interested me strongly. She has one child
and Is living separate from her husband
twenty five thousand dollars. She married
a specious, unprincipled fellow. vino only
wanted her money. After spending that he
abandoned her 10 her fate | made her ac-
quantauce at 4 friends house last week
and heard her story from her own lips II
Is sad one in every aspect. and gave me
tue heart ache. She Is utterly destitute
and eating the bread of charity; but anxious
10 help herself and live independently \
few of us are Interesting ourselves. and
mean To raise capital OF about one thou
sand dollars 10 set her up in some little bus
mess. II is but a common duty Of the
strong TO the weak. True neiShbOrlv kind
ness 10 a weak neighbOr is shown i'm acts
which help him 10 help himself
And Mr. Scranton refused TO join yOu
in doing this neighbOrly kindness
Yes. meanly and insolently refused, an
swered Hallam. with reviving Indignation.
What did he saw"
AS | told him my errand. | saw his
cOuntenance change. There il not much
Of light or warmth in it at any time: but
the few CLEANS that touched il here and
there, faded all out until il became abso-
lutely frigid."
3" 4 can't do anything in this case he
answered, almost before | was done speak
ing. His manner was rude.
- But, Mr. Scranton | continued. re-
solved, ia my anxiety 10 serve Mrs. Milton
not to be put of easily, this is a ease of
no common interest. Let me give YOU
some OF the facts
Excuse me, he replied. frowning and
moving restlesSly in his chair 1 had rath
er not hear them. and ii YOU will take nv
advice, you'll be 4 little chary about taking
up the case Of every plausible stranger YOU
happen to meet. | Say nothing against.
but certainly shall do nothing for Mrs Nil
ton, or whatever she may be pleased 10 call
herself
Good morning l said, and turned of
abruptly. was angry. and he knew il.
waited until my friend came back again
70 some degree of GOODNESS.
"Perhape." p" said /. ''he knows this Mrs
Milton great deal better than You do"
He never heard of her in all his lie be-
torel' was positively answered.
why do YOU say that
Because | am sure Of il. He's "a mean
misery old wretch, without touch OF hu-
man sympathy in his nature.
NO: IN that y0u misjudge him. Mr
Scranton | know 10 be n kiud-heartel man:
but he i prudent and thoughtful. Mere
feeling is rarely. If ever. permitted 10 gov
ern his actions. He must see a thing 10 he
right before he does it..
The calm head and TIE c,I heart -
Faugh | can't endure such men.
They serve society best IN fhe long run.
take it,. was my answer. 'Iui, TO come
back 10 Mrs Milton. Ny reading OF Nr
Scrnton's language and manner j. against
her He never talks idly Depend upon
IT, his Whatsoever she may be pleased 10
call herself has 4 meaning that YOU would
40 Well 10 consider.
But he fouted the idea and repeated his
strong sentence against Mr.. Scranton.
SIX months afterwards. while In COMPANY
with Mr.. Hallam the thought Of Mrs. Mi
ton crossed my mind, and | said
What OF the poor lady in whom vou
Were 50 much interested q while agoe Did
You get the thousand dollars and start her
in business 3"
Don't talk about her, he replied. q red
spot burning on his cheek. she was
Observation-Disclosures our money and
went off 70 New York 10 buy goods hut
FOL GOT to return"
'Nr. Scranton was not so far wrong. af-
ter all. ." said l.
Beg your pardon Hallam quickly re-
piled; he was wrong
Not as against Your fair swindler.~
But as against humanity. of which she
stood the representative. You naA5n't -rv
TO bolster up Scranton. I know bis onal;-
ty- I've read him through. \ c0li-bearf-
ell. selfish. mean. unSvmpathizinr man
Il was in vain that l defended NJ. SeraD-
ton Hallam would hear nothing in his IA
vor. and continued 10 denounce him a. m
feeling. leartlesS and brutal.