The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-01-18
Private Woes.

Private Woes.
We all take it for granted that the
world is very much interested in our own
especial suffcrings, and, when our emo
tons are at all excited, feel that every
body else is excited with us, and that our
haps and mishaps have the interest Of TO-
mances.
If we were able to lose the thread of our
own discourse for one moment, We might
find that this is great mistake, and that
most of the rest of the race are busy with
the thread of their own discOurses; and
that although they turn to listen to our
plant. and even to give us u share of
sympathy and pity, it is quite as matter
aside, an affair as much of self-respect as
of respect for us, and they are presently
hurrying on with their own affairs again
almost as indifferently as nature herself
seems to hurry.
But even allowing that the sympathy
Is very great, given for long time, with
out stint and actively felt, there comes an
end to all things, and perpetual draughts
must only reach the lees of that. If one
is going to demand sympathy forever, one
should be very careful as to the manner in
which it is demanded, as it is no impossi-
BILE thing to wear out the patience even of
those that love US most.
Real troubles can never fail to receive
the tribute of warm and enduring compass
sion; but real troubles do not last forever,
nor are they the ones concerning which
the most rOut is made, for deep sorrow is
apt to seek to wrap itself in silence, and
of the literally cureless diseases of the
1,rDfV,
last possible moment, and those, by the
very fever they excite in the blood, kindlc
cheerfulness. We are so constituted,
both physically and spiritually, that under
too heavy burden for us to bear we
sink and fail; and real trouble of any
amount wears us out, be it of body or of
soul, before any great lapse of time, and
puts an end to any need of sympathy
wears us out before we have chance
to wear patience out. 1t is, except for
very rare and phenomenal cases, the un-
real troubles, the actually slight ones,
those to be in some measure avoided, miti-
gated, or overlooked, that are spread be-
fore other people with loudesG iteration
and demand for sympathy.
This is especially to he noticed in cases
of partial illness, where much discomfort
is experienced, some pain, great weari-
ness, perhaps, yet not positive danger; but
you will observe that where there is an in
valid suffering such illness, no guest en-
tiers the door who is not Hospitality en-
treated with detailed account of that inva-
lids least symptOms-and unless the guest
be nurse or MUSICIAN, to what result? 1t
is even then ten to one if the cOmplainer
be we'll listened to, the first words having
recalled some similar instance in the
guests experience, Impotence to recount
which, according to the very same ten
dency, dulls the ear to all the rest Of the
sickly recital. 1t is, perhaps, exceeding
ly sad and dreary to be obliged to suffer
as this invalid does; We pity greatly; but
when the invalid still lives on, growing
no worse, we sometimes feel obliged tO
husband our resources, and to question If
good taste would not try to wear the
bright face instead of saddening the
world with the darkest side. In reality,
we are most of us inclined to sympathizc
generously with SORROW, with injustice,
with pain; but the instinct Of self. preser-
walton prevents our being able, if we are
willing, to endure a too prolonged strain,
and it may be pronounced as an axiom
that the individual receives the best and
surest sympathy who makes the least out
cry and bears the sad lot with fortitude.
There are, indeed, many sorrows and
troubles of which the old proverb,
= Least said, soonest mended," holds true.
There are some things best hidden in secret
receptacles, with the lid shutdown, rather
than aired in the sight of all. Whoever
wears happy face does q service to hui
mainly; for it is infinitely better that the
world should feel full of sunshine than of
gloom that the general heart should be
lifted in gratitude rather than abased
with ranking injury; and happiness,
meanwhile, or its semblance, bcgcts hap
piness, like a dollar at us,iry, and en-.
riches the moral world as sunshine does
thu earth.
1t is little singular. withal, that the
pOssessOrs of these numerous private
woes-privatey one should rather say pub.
lic!-so frequently forget common self
respect. What would the same individuals
say of the beggar who goes about show
[ing his sores?, And arc they doing any
differently! Are they not exhibiting q
corresponding sort Of uncleanness, the
same want OF m0desty and shame, max
ing themselves, as for as in them lies, and
with the mere diffcrcnce-and not always
that that exists between the ills of body
and of mind, as lOathsomein all compare
tive degree!
The chief thing to be done in this regard
by those who consider themselves the vic
Tins of any remarkable affection is al
ways to remember that, in spite Of all
kindness shown, nobody is so interesting
to another a. he is to himself, and that
dignity requires one 70 keep ones sorrOws,
as well As ones joys, father sacred than
otherwise. As rule, in the ecstisies OF
our great happiness or our great grief, we
prefer to be alone. Why in our small
happinesses and small griefs do we need
so much more companionship! It seems
as il one must, after all, be the possessor
of q very reassuring amount of vanity to
suppose that one should receive more
consideration or consolation from ones
acquaintance than Job did from his
friepdA-Hersv's Basar: sFss ST.
TIE Albany Penitentiary is evidently
conducted on thorough business princi.
pies. The Warden's report, lust pub-
Iished, shows an excess OF $37, 900 in the
earnings over the expenses Of the past
wear, or more than one-fOurth of the en-.
tire sum.