The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-07-07
The Passion Of Jealousy.

The passion of jealousy is, perhaps,
the fercest that can agitate the human
soul. Avarice is powerful vice, which
obtains and keeps complete possession
of its victim. 1t grows year by year in
force; it drags one lower and lower to
the fearful level of the miser; but it is
not as intensely fiery as jealousy. Hatred
is a hot passion and bitter one; like
avarice, it grows with ones growth and
strengthens with ones. .strengtb; but it
does not burn within ones very soul,
through ones very flesh and marrow, as
does jealousy. Ambition is strong
emotion; but as rule it elevates and
dignifies its possessor, or else it hardens
the heart and freezes it; but it does not
burn like jealousy.
The passion for gambling comes near
est to jealousy in intensity, but then it
is cold, calculating, mercenary vice
and lacks the fiery elements of jealousy.
There is Il physical component, a fleshy
part, sensual element, in jealousy
which is lacking in all other passions.
Jealousy is indeed the rage of man.
And if it is beyond all other emotions
fiery in the male breast, who, save
woman, can truly tell with what fierce
ness it burns within female bosom
'Mans love is of mans lite part
Ills woman's whole existence
And therefore jealousy, which can only
spring from love, is infinitely more in
tense in woman than it is in man.
A woman can endure almost anything
and everything-she can bear pain, hun
ger, squalor, physical and mental suffer
ing She can work her fingers to the
bone uncomplainingly for the one she
loves. She can bear all the woes that
heaven can send her; but she cannot en-
dure having rival. She admits no
partnership in her affections. and when
any attempt is made to win her loved
one from her she resents the attempt as
the great sin against herself that she
cannot forgive; her jealousy asserts IT
self, and the monster becomes n marvel
or monster.
Jealousy has been the handspring of
one third of the crimes and one-half of
the tragedies that have stained the an
nails of humanity. This master passion
has no respect for rank or place. 1t
stops at no crime; it does not hesitate at
murder, and it oftentimes inspires the
elegant man or woman of fashion with
the fell purpose of the assassin.
A case in point once occurred at a
watering place. on the coast of Maine.
A young and brilliant heiress, s0journ
ing for the summer at this resort, had
attracted the attention of young scion
of wealthy family, to whom she became
devotedly attached. The young mans
tickle affections, however. were in course
of time won by rival belle. The two
L. f,.,a <1,n
ceptation of the term, and the heiress
professed to view with indifference the
gentleman $ attentions to her less wealthy
but more beautiful companion. But the
passion of jealousy ranked in her heart,
and one day an opportunity for re-
venging herself upon her rival pre-
scented itself. The two ladies started
out one afternoon in August for walk
along the beach, clam boring along the
rocks which lined the coast. At last
they found themselves standing on a
narrow ledge of rock which overlooked
the ocean, whose waves babbled some
sixty PERCEPTIONS feet below. Aud now
demon entered into the jealous soul of
the neglected heiress. She saw an OPP
portunity to get rid of her rival. The
latter stood on the very verge OF the
precipice; slight push would accom-
plisL her object; her companion would
lose her footing and be dashed TO pieces
on the rocks below or drowned. FAN of
her deadly purpose, she stepped for
ward, and was about to give the fatal
push when, to her CONSERVATION, the
young man whose changeful love had
transformed her into would-be MUIR
deress, and who had, unobserved, seen
all from another ledge of rock, leaped
between the two women, add saved the
heiress from the guilt of successful
crime. The girl whose life was thus
providentially preserved never knew the
danger from which she escaped; but the
heiress, seeing that she was alike de-
tected and despised by the man she
loved, left the watering place the next
day and surrendered her former lover to
her rival. Waverly Magazine.
ha nyS.r 4