Gloucester County Democrat., 1879-01-21

under suspicion of having done SO.
Practically, however, it is otherwise,
as the punishment Of which we are
speaking is apt to follow comparatively
innocent actions, while real wickedness
often escapes scot-free. Conduct which
might bring the offender into the
Divorce Court may possibly expose
him to the cold shoulder of good So
ciety, but visits to the houses of the
leaders of the opposite cliques, or inter
course with respectable people whom
nobody knows" would quite GER
tainly render him liable to severe penal
ties. Again, it is simply "sad" when
aman becomes a confirmed dipsomaniac;
but if he changes his religion, however
conscientiously and at whatever sacri-
flee, he is visited with the severest penal
ties of the cold-shoulder Those, how
ever, who wish to taste the cold shoul-
der in all its bitterness should take an
energetic part in canvassing at an cleo
tion-if possible, selecting one in which
both candidates are Of similar politics.
Instead of being political contest, it
then becomes purely personal affair,
and although, when it is over, there is
"a great deal said about letting bygones
be bygones, and although it is generally
understood that no absolute cutting is
to be allowed to follow, the families
and supporters Of the rival candidates
find abundant opportunities for the use
of the only alternative weapon of
modern social warfare, nor are they
slow to use them. The two champions
lIEalU oh do l.
clare each other to be excellent fellows,
and at public dinners it may be given
out that there IS to be peace on earth
and good will towards men; but. for all
that, it is said in private that this man
has acted like traitor, and that man
like scoundrel, that Brown told lie
and shall be some day made TO eat his
words, that Jones represented the fa-
miliar friend of evil notorie5y, and that
Robinson behaved in manner that can
never be forgotten. 1t can not, there
fore, be matter of surprise if freezing
politeness is the warmest kind of inter-
course that takes place between the
rival factions for months, if not years,
to come; and the cold-shouldering
which follows resembles a general en-
gagement rather than a little quiet
dueling. Bad, however, as are cleo
tioneering contests in this respect, the
most enduring chilly treatment is that
which man experiences after heavy
pecuniary losses. At first the sufferer
meets with a good deal of ostentatious
sympathy and patronizing coincidence;
but this is succeeded by coldness, as
surely as the autumn follows the sum
mer. But hardest of all to bear, to a
man with any real selfrespect, is the
GOODNESS of the poor and Of social in
feriors. Nothing can well be more
humiliating than this, for it implies
that, much as it would be to their
private interest to curry favor with
him and put up with some disagree
ableness on his part, they have such a
contempt for his behavior Of character
that no accidents of birth or circum-
stances can make up for his personal
deficiencies.
1t is sometimes scarcely less disagree
able to give than to receive the cold
shoulder. Its infliction occasionally
becomes duty, and few things require
more discretion. However necessary
it may be to administer this form of
chastisement, there is no reason for
making it unduly painful. The lesson
will be far more taken to heart when
given in gentle manner than when it
is accompanied with rudeness and
sarcasm. When we consider ourselves
called upon to infict a little cold
shouldering, it is as well to remember
our own experiences under like treat
ment, and we may also proftably re-
call the. ridiculous figure sometimes
cut by those engaged in its administra-
ton; nor should it be forgotten that,
however wholesome this kind Of disci-
pline may be in moderation, it has
peculiarly hardening tendency when
used to- excess. 1t is desirable, too,
that we should be on our guard against
being supposed to be bent on cold
shouldering when we are quite inno-
cent of any such purpose.-London
Saturday ReUiel0