Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1874-02-25
MAKING EACH OTHER MIsER-
ABLE,

As if there were not troubles enough
in this world that come upon men with
out human design, people set themselves
to work to diminish happiness and to in
crease misery. Phrenologlsts tell US
that there is in man an organ and faculty
of destructiveness-that, when unregu-
lated, it inspires cruelty; that it is the
root of that horrible pleasure which the
Romans had. and their modern descend
ants still have, in murderous gladiatorial
shows, contests of wild beasts, bull.
fights, etc.
But there runs through modern civil
lied society vein of the same quality.
People who would faint to see gush of
blood, aud who think themselves Chris
tians, have lively enjoyment in witness.
ing pain, aud cultivate the art of intiict-
ing it. The mention of few of the
methods employed will make good my
remarks. ...
The delight with which many report
bad news, the eagerness with which they
report to people evil sayings which can
not but larcerate the feelings, show
morbid love of suffering This is not the
trait of villainous natures. 1t exists in
people of real kindness of disposition.
1t is not anomalous because it is so wide
~ extended as to seem normal.
Some people scatter producing
elements thougbtlessly, and are surprised
aud sorry when they witness the suffer.
ing produced Others do it for momen-
tary pleasure, without meaning any ser-
ous results. But now and then We find
u hn 1nyN 20 p,at
They enjoy aBother's sufferings. 1t is
their happiness to see some one made
keenly miserable by their lance-like
tongue. They will smile, and talk in
low. sweet tones, and shoot out quiver-
ing sentences, poisoned-tipped. and cast
a look sideways, to see il they strike, and
at every sign OF pain their face grows
bright.
In part this is latent ambition. Peo.
pie thus assert their power over others.
1t raises one in his own estimation tc
perceive that he can control the moods
of another.
But there is still more common exhi
bi.ion of the love of suffering. 1t is seer
in the ignoble. but universal, Art o
Teasing.
We see it in the most unregulated
form among children, who nip and pinch
each other, make mp mouths, twitch eact
others clothes, run off with toys, pust
and "jogsle," point with insulting fin
gers, and in q hundred ingenious wayi
strive to make each other miserable, A,
they grow up, it often happens tha
young people carry on campaign o.
teasing, each one vieng with another
which shall be the sharpest.
1t does not cease with youth. Crow
folks, good.natured, kind.hearted, well
neaning and full of benevolence, Otter
show this perverse spirit in the midst o.
all their kindness. BY sharp speech, b!
veiled sarcasm. by exciting curlosit!
which they will not crafty, by narratipl
pretended facts, by sinister compliments
by rallying one when circumstances for
bids reply. by equivocal praise, b.
blunt telling of some truth that had bet
ter been left unsaid, and by hundreds o
ingenious ways which time would fail t.
tell, people inaict pain upon each other
Those who, in the main, are striviDI
to make friends happy, will have on
black thread in the web OF white. Thos
who really love each other have strang
fondness for stirring each other up.
There is an innocent and even pleasure
producing method OF rallying, which,
deftly and gracefully done, heightens tn
enjoyment of society. One may touch
discord if it lapses into a true chor'
Sometimes, when we have good news
tell, we are bewitched with desire
open the matter as if it were gre
trouble that we are about to brea
There is a gentle badinage. an innoce'
shooting, which tiatters al
charms. But life is full of the 9th
sort. II Darwin is right in thinkll
that men ascended from nomads by gra
ual evolution, then it is very certain tn
some men came up by the way OF Il
mosquito, the flea and the biting fly, al
that their ancestral traits still linger
the blood.-[ Henry Ward Beecher.