The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-02-04
"The Black Dog on the Back"

THIS is an old English proverb for
man or a woman in a bad temper. And
1t is very forcible expression, for such
are really as great nuisances to society
as if they actually led about with them
an animal subject to indiscriminate
biting. Still, you will see that generally
they are rather proud than otherwise of
their failing; apt to plume themselves on
their quick tempers," and to expect in
Vulnerable impertinences and imposi-
tions will be forgiven them in considera-
ton of it. "They lose their tempers so
easily" That is true enough; but if
their friends will observe they will see
that they do not so much lose their tenn
per as exchange it for whatever at the
time they particularly happen to want
Are they at home and desire to have
everything ordered to their special
likings and habits? Then they lose their
temper in order that they may gain every
other persons rights and peculiar COM
forts and fancies. In the world, too, if
they lose their temper, they contrive to
gain far more than it's equivalent. 1t is
the good-natured man, not the bad one,
who is imposed upon and has to do all
the disagreeable things. If bitter
norther is blowing and the tempera-
ture below zero the good-nalured
man of the firm will rather face the ele-
ments than the development of latent
heat in his partner which a change from
the cosy office to the freezing street
would occasion. The extra hours, the
dlsagreeable dunning, the humiliating
asking Tor favOrs are never assigned to
the bad-tempered man. 1t may of course
be his duty, but he has only to look black
and mutter something about seeing
| everybody blessed first" and he may go
| Whereso@er and do whatsoever he
| chooses 1t is the prerogative of such
tempers not only to do ill-natured, selfish
things, but also to scatter impertinences
wherever they think it safe to do so. They
are les honnses terrible of the social exist
ence. 1t is their delight, if they do not
like thing, to say SO in the most de.
clded manner; to tell unpleasant truths
that do no good, simply because they de-
sire to do SO; to send meek and i1offen-
sive people out of their presence de-
pressed and uncomfortable The essen
tlal meanness of this disposition may be
traced in the fact that it rarely or never
shows itself to a superior. The hasty-
tempered man knows very well how to
control his temper in the presence of a
man richer, more hasty or physically
stronger than himself.
Now it must be admitted that the
great nursery of such tempers is the do
mestlc hearth. How overbearing broth
ers are to sisters! How provoking sisters
are to brothers! They do not consider
that the laws of polite restraint which
govern them perforce in the world are
necessary there. Each INDUCES his or
her particular temper until the disagree
able habit becomes natural. The
world has no just reason to excuse any
mans injustice OF Incorporate speech
because he has an uncomfortable temper.
Such tempers are very much rarer than
is imagined The average hasty-tempered
man never allows his temper to interfere
with his pecuniary interests or his person
al comforts; nor, however much he longs
to do it, does he usually permit himself
to strike the object of his anger, because
blows are actionable, and lie might be
made to suffer Therefore, if for his
own sake he can control his hands, he
ought to be made to feel it necessity,
for others sake, to control his tongue
and his temper also.-Christian at Work.