The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-07-11

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man may be - good fellow" and yet
have a bad temper, 50 bad that we rec
ognize his merits with reluctance, and
sre Inclined TO resent his occasionally
sm;able behavior as an unfair demand
on our admiration.
Touchwood is that kind Of good fell
low. lie Is BY turns insolent, quarrel
some, repulsiyely naughty 70 innocent
people who approach him with respect,
re0Iectful OF his friends, angry in face
81 legitimate demands, procrastinating
n the fulfllment Of such demands,
prompted TO rude words and harsh looks
by a moody disgust OF his fellow-men in
general -and yet, as every body will as
sure YOU, the soul Of honor,a steadfast
friend, a defender Of the oppressed, an
sflsctionate-h hearted creature. Pity that,
after certain experience Of his moods,
his intimacy becomes insupportable! A
man who uses his balmorals 10 tread on
YOUR toes with much frequency and an
unmistakable emphasis may prove a fast
friend in adversely, but meanwhile your
adversely has not arrived and your toes
are tender. The daily sheer or growl at
your remarks is not TO be made amends
Tor by possible eulogy or defense Of
your understanding against depreciators
who may not present themselves, and
on an occasion which may never rise l
can not submit 10 chronic state Of blue
and green bruise as form Of insurance
against an accident.
Touchwood's bad temper is of the
contradicting, pugnacious sort. He is
The honorable gentleman in opposition,
whatever proposal or proposition may
be preached, and when others join him
he secretly damns their superfluous
agreement, quickly discovering that his
way Of stating the case is not exactly
theirs. An invitation or any sign Of
expectation throws him into an attitude
refusal. Ask his concurrence in be-
neyolent measure; he will not decline
10 give it, because he has real sympa-
thy with good aims; but he complies
resenifully, though where he is let alone
he will do much moro than any one
would have thought of asking for. No
man would shrink with greater sensi-
tiyeness from the imputation Of not
paying his debts, yet when bill is sent
in with any promptltude ne Is inclined
TO make the tradesman wait for the
money he is in such hurry to get. One
sees that this antagonistic temper must
be much relieved by finding particular
object, and that its worst moments must
be those where the mood is that II vague
resistance, there being nothing specific
to oppose. Touchwood is never so lit
tie engaged as when he comes down to
breakfast with cloud on his brow, after
parting from you the night before with
an effective effusiveness at the end
Of confidential. conversation
which has assured you Of mu-
tusl understanding. Impossible
that you can have committed any
offsnse II mice have disturbed him,
that Is not your fault, but, nevertheless
your cheerful greeting had better not
convey any reference to the weather,
else ii win be met by sneer which,
taking you unawares, may give you q
crushing sense that You make poor
figure with your cheerfulness, which was
not asked for Some daring person.
perhaps, introduces another topic, and
uses the delicate fattery Of appealing to
Touchwood for his opinion, the topic
being included in his favorite studies.
An indistinct muttering, with look At
the carving-knife in reply, teaches that
daring person how i'll be has chosen .
market for his difference. II Touch
woods behavior affects you very close
~, you had better break your. leg in the
course Of the day; his bad temper will
then vanish AZ once; he will take q
painful journey on your behalf; he will
sit up with you night after night; he
viii do all the work Of your department,
50 as TO save you from any loss in con-
sequence Of your accident; he will be
even uniformly tender TO you till you
are well on your legs again, when he
viii some fine morning insult you with
out provocation, and make you wish
that his generous goodness TO you had
not closed your lips against retort.-
George Eliot.