The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-08
JEALOUSY.
ben iae I.Ondon Isaturdap Repses.


drsmatists, changes the hue of it's victim by
gDawing at his vitals; and there is the jeal-
opsy which, affesting neither circulation,
digestion, nor bile, indicates its presence
solely by certain rigidity of outline. Per-
haps there is no vice more respectable than
this latter form of jealousy, which is quality
wholly independent of passion and acting in
cold blood. The jealous nature does not
need lover or a mistress to exercise itself
upon; it rises out of certain combination
of qualities-an exaggerated idea of ones
own claims, a craving for their recognition by
others, and not the best temper in the world
Many proud and coneeited persons fed
by illusions are sufficient to
themselves, at least are not more
dependent than their neighbors on the popu-
lar voice. These are not Jealous; but where
self-approval and appreciation are not enough
are scarcely realized or recognized as a good
apart from the consent of others, there are
endangered the suspicion, acerbity, and quar-
rel with the individual or society which we
call jealousy. To this we are disposed to
think the two extremes of society are most
liable; they at least exhibit its characteristics
in the strongest and most unmitigated FORMS
1t is most conspicuous in those who are at the
top but hold their place only by sufferanoe,
and in the obscure who would be lost in the
crowd and forgotten but for the vigor of
their elf-esteem, setting on pedestal before
which all their little world must bow. AS an
example of the jealousy rising ont of an in
satiable need of universal homage, take the
case Of Napoleon l on the occasion, we
think, of his being elected Consul for life.
All eyes of vast assembly were fixed on
him, when he noted a momentary turn of
those multitudinous eyes from himself to
seme new object of curiosity. The entrance
of Madame Recamier in the splendor of her
youthful beauty had caused this diversion,
and jealous scowl on the conquerors brow
noted his displeasure-a lasting displeasure-
against rival who for q few moments re-
duced him to q second rank For the more
familiar jealousy of the obscure we may refer
the reader to the habitual temper of an old
servant, if any reader is fortunate enough to
possess the services of one confident in her
self as 9 real treasure of honesty, industry
and sobriety, and using these virtues
as grounds for perpetual ill-temper. Respect
ability in this class often involves such a
hand. to-hand fight with temptation that we
should not perhaps wonder at their valuing
themselves on the score of native excelen-
cies which ought not to pass for much with
their betters. AS fact we have often OBJ
served that the self-complaoenoy arising from
an orderly life, religious observance, and
trustworthiness, presumably enacted under
the eyes of an admiring world, issues in an
exclusive claim to everything good and plea
sant that is going on. Such person grows
to regard every recognition of another's merit
as a deliberate personal slight to be avenged
by judicial sullenness of aspect. ''Valua-
ble" is the epithet constantly applied to these
social oppressors who are SO successful in i'm
posing their own self-estimate on their en-
ployers, all the while ignorant that an outra-
geous jealousy is the real source of the dis
comfort which they possibly suppose to be an
inevitable tax on the highest merit.
Between these two exponents of the qua
hty there are infinite degrees. We ought
never to consider ourselves or any one else to
be wholly free from it, or purely dispassion.
ate and clear of personal bias not to be other
wise explained. Wherever there are natural
rights, however they may seem to be forgot
ten or disowned, it is always wise to steer
clear of any course that may awaken a SEN
sation which is much more likely to be slum-
bering than wholly absent. Nor does it ever
do to suppose circumstances bar to its pre-
sence. Wherever there is a sens of depend
enoe on others there is room for jealousy
Several years ago there were in the Asylum
for the Deaf and Dumb at Bath two children,
deaf dumb, and blind-reduced therefore to
the sense of touch for all acquired know
ledge of men and things; and these two chill
dren contrived to be violently jealous of
each other, rancorously resenting any favor
of notice or dress in which the other had the
advantage. Jealousy, in fact, belongs to
sort of helplessness-tO natures that are not
sufficient for themselves, that depend ON
others in an exceptional degree, and need
that others should depend on them as a
source of pleasure, comfort, reliance of any
sort. We shall constantly find such people
enlarging on their Importance to others; they
are anxious to prove a wide clientele. The very
anxiety to prove this is jealous trait. We
xaau IA carfain that thaaa boaatad friandc of
theirs have their little grievances if
we could but find them, and that living with
them is by no means plain sailing. We
know it, too, by the sort of uneaSiness which
arises in the manner and countenance of
these favorites-by their showing, at the
mention of certain names, sudden set of
the features that warns us, as it were, off the
premises of that subject. Many persons,
with fine play of expression when the
mind is disengaged, assume mask like rigidity
under this influence, which bids us beware,
for we are on dangerous ground; an aspect
not without its irritation even when we are
not personally injured by it, for it is vexa-
tious to feel ourselves in the presence
of one incapacitated for fair and Just view
of the question or character that engages us.
We can never hope to come in contact with
an unpI ejudiced mind while that mask is on;
it shuts out all fairness of treatment. And
besides that this temper constantly misses the
best points in others, it is itself too scruti-
nizing and detective for the best qualities to
show themselves. Jealousy of this sort by
no means necessarily indicates an unami able
temper, and it constantly belongs to fidelity
and tenacity of affection, but it is a one
sided amiability that m ore readily weeps with
the sorrowful than follows out the other
clause of the apostolieal injunction.
These are the people before whom