The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-30
VICTIMS AND THEIR vlCT MIXERS.
NON London Soetelv.

jOue ct Pautre qui baise." However reciprocal
the affection between two friends may be, one
is invariably the recipient, and the other the
donor. It may be that one has no power Of
dsmonstrativeness or simply that one is
stronger minded than the other; but from
whatever cause it arises it is an undoubted
fact that in every friendship one will is para
mount, enc is the guiding spirit, one always
has the upper hand.
This consciousness of power is usually ac-
eompanied by disregard Of the feelings Of
tbe one who has been weak enough to place
his happiness in another's keeping. 1t has
been very truly said that ga morbid love of
power in the shape of cruelty lies at the bot
tom Of every human heart, and where either
man or a woman is invested with absolute
dominion over the happiness of another, that
very instant, like tares sown by the Evil One,
comes the inclination to tyrannize."
II this is true Of those who are unconscious
of any unkndness, and who, if reproached
with it, would consider themselves more
sinned against than SHINING, what can be said
for the many who embitter the nearest and
dearest ties of relationship by their selfish and
erig6ant tempers, and make the "dreary inter
course of daily life' more dreary than IL is
already made by the oark and care of this
weary world and who infuses poison and
unrest where we might legitimately
hope for sweetness and repose' We are not
now speaking of unkindness that is intentional
and premeditated. 1t may be that the victim
izers suffer even more than their victims, for
the insulting word and covert sneer may be
the means of their acquiring patience and for
bearance, so that rest and peace may come to
them with the daily consciousness of increased
self-control. But the inner life of many who
inflict that kind of suffering upon those who
nj he mi lOua r1x bo
positive hell upon earth.
All the compassion felt by these domestic
tyrants is for themselves. 1t is they who are
not understood or appreciated; then who are
too refined to bear the ups aud downs of
daily life; their sensitive organization which
cannot tolerate the rough handling which
Others are forced to endure. They little re-
alize the pain they infict; they do not hear
the groans of their victims, or see the tears
forced back from eyes that disdain to weep.
If by chance momentary cOmpunction comes
over them, they dismiss it by complacently
dwelling upon some act of generosity they
may have displayed on recent occasion.
May persuade themselves that if their con-
Science does not reproach them for any failure
of kindness in action, words and manner are
of no moment. How little such people under
stand human nature, if they think that any
act, however generous, or any gift, however
magnificent, can elicit one spark of gratitude
or produce anything but pain, if it is accom-
panied by bighting words or contemptuous
sneers-those Giving serpents with their
Venomous stngs" that deal desolation into
the hearts of those who are their prey.
No tyrant has more power of creating
misery in his own little world than the do
mestic tyrant, or so completely banishes the
two great elements of happiness in social life,
namely, freedom and trust.
Domestic discord has lately been most
Il
cal under the name of the Naggletons; but
a querulous, discontented woman, and a
selfish, unsYmpathizing husband, scarcely
come up to the kind of cruelty of
which we are speaking, and to which the
wrung hearts and quivering nerves of the
inmates of some apparently happy homes bear
ample testimony.
When we remember the way in which all
children kill flies, tease dogs and cats, and the
number of boys that delight in spinning cock
chafers it seems as if cruelty was inherent in
human nature; or it may be only the love of
power that makes SO many persons delight in
saying whatever will most wound or mortify
They seem to take positive pleasure in this,
and seem to practise it as If it were an
Complishment, the amount of pain
given being the gauge of the success of
The entertainment. Such people are among
the most unpOpular-wounds to self-love
being, of all small injuriss, the most difficult
TO forgive.
We were once present when lady came in
rather Unexpectedly to call upon very young
wife, and found her dissoved in tears at the
temporary absence of her husband.
$50 Colonel - has left you alone lit is
really too bad"
'Iie has been obliged to go to London on
business was the somewhat indignant re-
jOinder.
'Business, my dear Have you still to
learn the meaning of that very convenient
term for all that gentlemen wish to dor l am
not at all surprised to find you alone; in fact,
quite expected it, after hearing your husband
say the other night that he was quite deter
mined to be present the first night of the
new opera. Let me see; that is tonight is il
not i'' looking at a newspaper which lay on
the table. Eyes, to be sure; so that is his
business and advise you to write to him,
and show him that you know what his 'busi-
hess is. Why'did not he take you with him %
The poor little wife turned red and pale
alternately; but her ''friend' departed in high
glee at having so efectually stabbed her in the
most vulnerable part.
Sometimes this kind of cruelty is yelled by ex-
aggerated expressions of interest in the victims
health or happiness. "My dear Julia, have
come on purpose to see how you are, for you
were looking so wretchedly last night it made
me quite anxious. You were as white as your
own gown. Every soul remarked it, and
you were so silent and depressed that we
feared you must have heard some bad news;'
or, VI am so delighted to meet you out; for,
from what the Philipses told me of your sing
ing, feared your cold must be very bad still
When you sang at Madame IS concert,
every one thought your voice quite changed. -
Both victims smile grimly, and express some