The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-12-16
The Power OF Being a Nuisance.

One of the forces not duly rated in
this world Is the power involved IN
making ones self disagreeable. Emer-
son has written finely in favor OF tact
and the power OF persuasion; how 1T
makes its way through the world, OBJ
talns fayors denied even to princes and
potentates, and lays tribute upon wealth
and culture. All me glad to serve its
possessor. Like the centurion, it can
say to one man DO this and he doeth it,
especially if it is woman who says it.
But on the other hand there is such
force IN ones ability to carry point by
the simple process of making everybody
uncomfortable until it is accomplished,
that one may well pause III deciding the
respective claims to superiority of those
two very different sorts Of talent. 1t is
true that in the fable the sun made the
traveller take off his cloak whereas the
wind made him draw it more closely
about him, and the story is told to IL
lustrate the superiority of gentleness to
buster. But it is to be borne in mind
that only by making itself disagreeable
and the traveller uncomfortable did the
sun succeed.
The child who has lived long enough
TO scream, cry and kick, in order to call
attention to its wants, and refuses to
cease making nuisance OF itself until
these are grahfied, has already learned
the potency of this lever in human
affairs. The woman who, beginning an
acquaintance with her persistent suitor,
by little wholesome aversion, ends by
marrying him sin order to get rid of
him, pays a practical and overwhelm-
ing tribute to the advantages arising
from capacity to make ones self an in
sufferable torment. Women understand
the infinite variety of possibilities that
lie latent in this force. They know that
by beginning early and being constant
in prayer, there is nothing from a seal
skin sacque Toulouse with mansard roof
that Is not possible to them. The unjust
Judge realized it when, lest she should
weary him by her continual coming, he
avenged the importunate woman of her
adversary. The book agent, the light
ming rod man, the life insurance sole
itor, the hackman, the beggar in rags
and the beggar in broadcloth and silk,
have taken the highest degrees that can
be conferred in this school Of life. The
office seeker, who devotes all his time to
getting Office, knows well the mighty
force that lies in his unceaaing, vigilant,
perpetual presence, asking by letter, and
in person, both at the rising of the sun
and the going down thereof, at midday
and midnight, for the place he wants.
The collector of debts is armed with it,
and it the measure of his success.
The autograph hunter is the embodi-
ment of 1T, and it is his growing glory
that few have attained the distinction of
being cursed as he had been, for being
an unmitigated nuisance, and aroused,
even in the breasts of the pious, thoughts
that lie too deep, not only for tears, but
for words not fit for polite society. Yet
it is in proportion to this supreme
capacity for making ones self odious
that the autograph hunter exhibits, like
the Indian, the trophies of his hunt.
Nor does it seem to require the brazen
hardihood of age and experience. Ow-
ing to the fact that age puts by this sort
of thing with other follies, it is the youth
that most indulge and most exult in this
lion-b batting pastime.