Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-02-14
Selected Misfellaup.
THE COLD SHOULDER.

expressions which are apparently
fanciful and illogical are sometimes more
telling than others in which no criticism
could find flaw. For instance, the
curious and rather awkward phrase,
giving the cold shoulder" has ac-
quired by usage q force which could
scarcely be equaled by the most fault
less. We can not pretend to account for
the popularity of this idiom, which has
long been exalted from the degradation
of slang to the responsibility of conven-
tional English. 1t may be more inter-
esting to consider the uses and abuses
of the thing than to speculate on the
history of the word. Precedents Of
great antiquity may be found for the use
of the cold shoulder, but it is ncverthe-
less special characteristic Of the day.
In past times enemies had many re-
sources-duels, horse-whipping, tour
naments, plucking Of boards, and smit-
ings under fifth-ribs but in these days
their only choice lies between dead cut
and the cold shoulder. The readiness
and portability of this last weapon rem
ders Its use but too common and it is
rarely that any social gathering takes
place without some very pretty fighting
with this instrument. II has also this
advantage, that its use is not confined
TO the male sex, for women can WELD il
on occasion with the ferceness Of petro-
ieuses. The graceful use of the cold
shoulder fairly deserves to be ranked
among the fine arts while, on the con-
trary, nothing can be more ungainly
than its awkward application. When a
factlcss man meets the object Of his de-
testation, he looks nervously self-con-
cious, and seems undecided, whether to
cut, or merely slight his enemy. After
blushing in foolish manner, he gives
an awkward bow, which. intended to be
graceful, is in reality ludicrously clumsy.
A casual observer might impute bis sin
gular behavior to sbyness rather than
hatred. The most successful hand at
cold shouldering is the heartless and
listless man. who can put his victim
completely out Of his mind, and forget
his presence. if not his existence, as
soon as be has accorded him the coolest
of recognitions. Without insinuating
that women are more heartlcss and list
less than men, we may observe that they
are far greater adopts in this art than
the opposite sex. Most men are more
or less i'll at ease when they know they
are giving pain to others. but this is by
no means invariably the case with wo-
men. We might even go SO far as to
say that ladies sometimes too evidently
derive satisfaction from the annoyance
Of others while retaining their own calo-
ric; but men cannot obtain like result
without first becoming icicles themselves.
The lords Of creation, moreover. when
wishing TO appear dignifed, are apt 10
assume an air Of vacant stupidity. They
are, in fact. bad actors and when
man would like TO knock another down,
he finds il an effort TO treat him with
cold politencss.
But il the art Of giving the cold shoul-
der is worthy of requirement, much more
go is that Of receiving II judiciously. =
IL is quite possible 10 endure It's applica-
ton with such becoming dignity that
the aggressor comes of decidedly second
best 10 the encounter. Perhaps amused
Indifference from the most effective armor
against its tbrusts, for few things no
disconcert an enemy as TO find bis attacks
afording diversion 70 bis antagonist. The
probability in such case is that he will
either lose his temper, aud thus put
himself Immediately 10 the wrong. or
Else surrender unconditionally on per-
sewing the absurdity Of the situation
Il is said that people who have IN inor-
Innate fear Of infectious diseases are more
susceptible Of them than others; and. 10 |
he same manner. those who are always
ircadiBg the cold shoulder are most vul- |
1erable 10 that kind Of attack. Indeed.
men who live 10 perpetual fear Of sights |
rom others become 70 constrained 10 7
heir manner that il is extremely dib- !