The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-12-19
MISCELLANY.
KEEP YOUR TEMPER.
wholesome Talk for Folks Who Fly
of at the Handle-The Art lfMak-
ing EVERYBODY Uncomfortable.

There are good people even, who will
make great sacrifices for others, but
whose temper renders them enemies to
comfort they have not a hand in. The
eve wanders in search of a grievance or
an objection, an inner spleDeiic humor
forbids repose and ruffles the general
atmosphere. This ia the melancholy
form. There is a sprighsls habit Of car
ping quite az irritating, and prodncing
viIer disturbance ArtIsrcughly ir-i
liable temper is consistent With self
control. The wise man sfaiesed with il
knows he canns,; trust himself, ard l. on
his guard. But there is a half control
which PUSHES into the arena OF dispute,
safe uereI to transgress conventional
civiIiiy, but keeping others on thorDS,
expecting shat tie threatening storm will
surely burst over them. Husbands anc
wives sometimes treat their friends to
scenes of alteration which just stop
short of quarrel. The complainant in
this case can only wish they hated each
other little more seriously. "If they
would only be so discreet as to hate from
the very bottom of their hearts, their
aversion would be too strong for gibes
every moment" It IL wonder that af-
fection can stand the wear of two such
tempers in collision. They think it does;
but that is questionable love which likes
to make its object feel in the wrong, and
have the worst of things though but in
an argument of question of fact.
1t is not quite certain that habit of
contradiction as such comes under the
description of ill-temper. 1t is Ingram
ed in some natures, and independent of
provocation Now we generally regard
temper in its relation to others, as We
excite its outbursts and eIep-ience its
inconvenience. But contradiction,
though it is a prominent feature, and
INDUCED smiling and in cold blood, is
akin to temper in the marked feature of
being blind to reason, and therefore
needing management and finesse in thoss
exposed to it.
People complain of the growing indie
pendence Of servants; but, however try
ing to the house keeper, it has its moral
use. Our present relation with our do
mestics is a training of temper which
the world has wanted till the nineteenth
century Most furions tempers are what
they are from having had their sway
unchecked from the first-an unresisting
somebody to bully. Servants, to judge
from books and records, used to be the
natural objects for such amenities; but
now the most irritable of masters cr mis-
tresses, whomsoever else they fly out
upon. learn to keep a civil tongue in
their head towards the "tolerable" cook
they would be at their wits cad to re-
place.
Another training is to be found ir
games and social amusements, which are
growing more and more into business
life. We give, many of us, preposter
GUS amount of time to sport; bpt<beine
an occupation, not simply a laxation
it has to be made business of and sub
iected to stringent rules. To fail, anc
lose with good grace, is discipline
people must learn, old or young, boys ol
girls, when they are playing every da,
and all day long.
Few men have sweet tempers, or hole
such as they possess under steady, IN
variable control, though there are mel
who, without this sweetness Of nature
however much tried never seem to los'
their self-command. No public maj
can get on long who has not his tempe
we'll in hand; but with the same amour
of inAammable particles, men differ yer,
much on the occasions that set fire t
them. Some people who are all com
posure when we might reasonably expeo
and justly excuse an explosion, wll
break down into peevishness or passin
frenzy on slight p-ovocations. We hav
known men, quite remarkable TO
a well-bred serenity be unreasonably an
childishly testv at some transient annoy
ance of sort they are not used to-
Highly sensitive organizations and in
telIects kept on the stretch are always i;
ritable. Nor does the field in whic
temper exercises itself make much di
ference. A divine defending his favorit
views is as peppery as any layman; Will
he fiushes and his eye CLEANS and scir
tillates with less consciousness of tt
spirit that rouses the glare, than the di'
putant in secular matters-the distin'
ton between zeal and temper being mol
easily drawn by his opponent or obse
yer than by himself. How often v
read of meetings between religious {
philanthropic leaders, look forward
as a great occasion by their follower
leaving only painful regrets, throug
some accidental spark falling upon tt
combustible clement in the composite
of one or both.
We may discuss temper with illustr
tions to advantage, if we do not look t.
near home for these illutrations, or e
pend our curiosity in vagrant mental i
quiries am ong our neighbors. One THU
is certain; those with whom we pass ol
lives had best not be subjects
too curious analysis Nature throws
veil over loving eyes. Until affection
too sorely provoked, it is inexact at de
nitions, and calls i'll temper uay-;
accident for which the owner is irrespo
sible-a physical weakness by which
is the greatest sufferer. When husban
and wives, brothers and sisters, pareT
and children, call i'll temper by the
right names, the charm of family life
over But questions we had better II
set our judgment to solve about oth'
are very proper concerning ourselv
In fact, the subject is very superficial
gone into if we do not slip into persor
applications by the way. Ill temper
malignity while it lasts, and will sh
signa,of its working. Do quarrels ga
er round us? Are we fruitful hot '
80. M