Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-05-11
WORRY and Worriers.


sive word of Dutch origin. Lit does not necessa
rily include the idea of pain or suffering, or rea
trouble of any kind, though these are often th
cause of worries. Neither is it exactly synony
nous wlthfret. Frettingis worrying turned mad
Sharp tempered people fret; but some of the
worst worriers are kindly, gentle tempered peo
pie. gentle worry is a sort OF mental chate
more or less violent according to circumstances
1t may be simply just enough to disturb the
mind when there is nothing special to occupy
attention; or it may be so serious as to occupy
the mind in spite of everything else, and then
it destroys all peace and comfort, not of the
subject of it alone, but of all who are brought
into intimate relations with the Worrler.
There may be a real cause for worrying OF
merely an Imaginary one and OF the two the
latter produces the worst cases of worrying, a
diseased imagination being the least easily
cured Of all distempers. Reason and argument
have little power over such patients all being
resisted and perverted with surprising ingenui-
ty. The only effectual remedy is to occupy the
mind with some more engrosslng subject.
/ The habit of worrying, like all other habits OF
mind and body, grows and strengthens with IN
| diligence. It is doubtless more natural and easy
for some persons to worry than 1t is for others;
| but almost any living man or woman, or any
sensitiyeness, will acquire the habit by little
practice, and by patient continuance In it, may
| make life one great worry; or almost unbroken
chain of worries.
The things about which one may worry are
multitudinous; embracing the finished past
and the uncertain future, as well as the actual
present. What has been done or left undone
in the past as we'll as what has occurred within
our own agency, and over which we may have
no manner of control, and for which we have no
accountability whatever and In respect OF which
we have absolutely no power of reverslon or al
teration-any, and all of those things may cause
almost endless worry, when the only good that
can possibly be got from them, are lessons OF
sorrow for what has been wrong, and Oh caution
and wisdom to regulate the future.
But things present, over which men and wo-
men constantly worry, are often really as much
beyond ones control as things past. One lot
in life, for example, over which men and Wo-
men, the latter especially-are at this moment
worrying away all the peace and comfort OF
their lives-is as often absolutely uncomfortable
by them as are the events Of past years. We
can just as easily add one or two cublts to our
statue, as to alter in sundry particulars, our
daily allotted lfe Worry as we may, fight
against it as we will, there is power above and
beyond US which arranges the circumstances OF
life, and as certainly as it controls the winds
and the waves and orders the forces OF nature,
and from which we can no more escape than we
can from the atmosphere which surrounds US,
or the allwise present Deity, in whom we live
and have our being. Call 1t what you villa
destiny" which shapes our ends, rough heW
them as we NAV: luck, which attends one,
whatever he may do; Or ''providence" which
orders mans footsteps, devise his ways as ne
will still there is that which made the wise
man declare that that which is crooked cannot
be made straight, and that which is wanting
cannot be numbered" Yet no inconslderable
part of many lives is spent worrying about these
crooked things in this way, and trying to num-
Der what is wanting of good things IN his life.-
All the sweetness and joy of passing day IS thus
sacrificed to useless and senseess regrets that
things are with US as they are, and longing Tor
impossibllltles In our lot.
Once in while We met on the journey OF lite
quiet, genial, loveabe persons, who, in common
parlance, are called practical little bodies =
and we fairly envy these quiet, peaceful minds
These are the rare spirits who do not wear away
life with worries who take things as they find
them. and make the most of what is good and
the best of what is bad But why is it that so
few initiate what so many envy and desire?
Worrying about the future IS so manliestly'
unreasonable and absurd, that most people are
ashamed of it, and are slow to acknowledge
their folly There is one thing concerning Wor,
ries about the future which is worthy of special
ments against the practice. ltis this: that very
rarely indeed do things future, about which we
are worried turn out as we anticipated 1t gen
eraIIy proves an absolute waste OF thought ana
feeling to worry about things future, for not one
time In a hundred, or ten hundred, do the
things we feared, come upon us. 30 worrying
about the future like contention, may as well
be left off before it is meddled with, 50 tar as
any good in the way Of preparation Is concern
ed.
IF then Worrying about things future, present
or past, is of so little avail why should the mis-
crahle habit be INDUCED? Why should We spoil
the many comforts and blessings OF every day
life. and even make our lives burdensome to
ourselves and q nuisance to others, by endless
worries? But how are We to avoid worrying
If nntbine else, we can avoid the indulgence
and cultivation of the habit 1t may not be
nossible to keep all troubled feelings away, any
more than it is to keep all wicked thoughts; but
we NAV and we ought to discourage and tight
them We ought to resort at once to the pleas
ant things around and resolutely submit the tu-
ture to Him who will make all things to work
together for good to them that trust him.
srABB1NG AFFRAY. "A stabbing affray, be-
tween two colored men, Jim Cook and Sam.
Garnett, occurred at Hill S hotel, in this place,
on Monday morning, Goth. A difficulty had
originated between the parties, and offensive
epithets had been applied by Garnett to COOK,
when the latter seized butcher knife and cut
| and stabbed Garnett fearfuly. lie gave him
one stab between the shoulder blade and ribs,
about six inches deep, ranging doWnWards and
not penetrating the cavity, another In the arm'
! Ca very serious wound dividing the muscles,
| and one slight wound in the left side. Although
| Garnett was so hacked to pieces as 1t were by
his adversary, yet his injuries are not consider
ed necessarily mortal. From the statements
made before J. d. Price, Esq, who Is the act
inc Mayor of the town. Garnett seems TO nave
baen the aegressor. The Physicians in attend
ance testifylng that Garnett's wounds were not
of necessity fatal. Cook, after examination,
was released on bail, Capt j. n Hill becoming
his surety in bond for $3.50. Both men were
emnloved at Hills hotel, one as cook, and the
/ other as teamster Rockingham Reglster.
The Government is in possession of informa-
t;on to the effect that the cause OF the insurgents
IN Cuba is not at all fattering. 1t appears that
their agents in Washington and New Y ork have
admitted that unless they obtain recognition or
material aid from our Government they will be
unable to hold out beyond sixty days. 1t is
understood that the Administration IS not dis
posed to interfere with affairs in the Island
bevond the protection Of American citizens and
! their interests The English and French Minis
ters fully understand the condition of affairs IN
Cuba and the attitude Of our Government, and
have advised their respective governments ac-
cordlBgly.
The N. Y. Times (Radical) declares that the
noliticians who cont ol the conduct OF the coun-
try bv filing its Offices have become utterly de
| moraIiged and look upon government only as