The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-01-21
SOCIAL REPORTERS.
From the London Saturday RevIew.l


Most people understand human nature well
enough 10 know that nothing interests Ike
self; that they are secure OF attention, even
eager attention, 30 long as they make their
hearer their topic, and tell him what he does
not know OF the impression he makes on The
minds OF others. But their knowledge gen
orally stops here; Lney do not know the con-
sequences which naturally result from this
class OF communications. They wish to please,
TO put their friend In good humor with them
and with himself; but sympathy ls seldom
deep enough or wide enough to calculate on
the ultra Jealous sensiliveness OF mankind In
this matter OF the estimate and appreciation
of others. The report OF any intelligent, hon.
est discussion Of ones character, however To-
dulgent and friendly, Is perfectly certain to
leave some burrs sticking TO the memory
which not even lime will rub off, 1t is a fact
that only Wholesale, and 1t ID none the worse
If indlscrimi2ate, praise can safely be re-
ported to the subject OF 1.-THE sort
of praise that the recipient can pass OF
with an indulgent deprecatory complacency.
Nothing short of this Ia Without some lurking
sting to our self-esteem. MOI that this grosser
incense Is intoxicating to man of ordinary
sense, or is accepted for moment Without
inward protest; but 1t Ia free from the draw
back of the one Ingredient which, however
slight the tincture, will go far 20 embitter the
most fattering decoclion. No character is
ever discussed In absolute freedom without
much being said which would annoy the per-
son In question beyond the compeDsating
power ofany amount Of general encomium.
Qualification at once turns eulogy Into crill-
cism, and, to sensitive natures, adverse criti-
cIsm; the Ifs and the butts, the bare hints at
traIlteB, DEFICIENCIES, or weak sides, Seem 10
absorb all the ingenuity Of the speakers.
Their praise is soured and cnrdled, and at
| best loses all Its sparkle, under the evil In
fuence of cold analysis.
In all eulogy, We are told, there is an infu-
sion of poppy, and 30, when unmixed, 1t will
not linger verbatim on the memory. An In
teligent particlpator In the discussion scarcely
cares to report 1t even TO Its subject without
the seasoning which gives it point and relish.
1t is something TO have character worth the
labor of analysis. As 1t appears to the re-
porter, the cleverness OF the discussion all
come out on this eide. Some neat things were
said which 1t is pity should not be heard by
the person most concerned and most able 10
feel their incislve truth. They are
the sort Of things which he says
of Others, and therefore he is likely
criticism and all, ought to satisfy him. But it
does not. He Ia amused for the moment, but
reflection turns 1t to bitterness. To be dis.
cussed at all with any familiarity comes upon
people as a dlsagreeable surprise, however
free and easy they may be towards their own
friends behind their backs. There ID nUthtUB
more curious than this blindness to the nalu
raj law of reprisals, the hidden titfor-tat
| which is ever going on, whereby the small
| Injuries we commit against our neighbor are
certainly being avenged somewhere. 30 that
| II we find our amusement In his weaknesses,
| the fact should remind US that our own are
surely furnishing sport to him or to his un-
| known and unconscious champion, the instru-
| ment of fate who Is making the balance even.
Enr lty 10 oH
| on in the dark; men retorL on one another
| without knowing It, A proVidentlal blind
ness, In fact, lies upon US all in regard TO this
matter of what others are saying Of us. We
| take liberties with our friends, and never
speculate on return In kind. Common sense
does not think about 1t at all, and vanity takes
for granted that we cut as superior figure In
other eyes as we do In our own. "Consider-
Ing" says Mr.. Troope, "how much We are all
given TO discuss the characters Of others, and
to discuss them often not In the strlctest spirit
of charity, 1t is singular how little we are in
clined to think thaC others can speak ill
naturedly of us, and how angry aud hurt we
are when proof reaches us that they have
done 30. II Is hardly TOO much to say that we
all of us occasionally speak of our dearest
friend In manner which that dearest friend
would very little like, and that we neyerthe-
less expect our dearest friends shall uniyer-
sally speak of us as though they were blind to
all our faults. and keenly olive to every shade
Of our virlues." But our point Is that even
where there is no i'll nature, no carping spirit,
but on the contrary every desire TO do Justice,