Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1883-12-20

IA tniS WorA0 tnat COusS upon men
without human design. people set
themselves to work TO diminish hap
piness and to increase misery. Phren-.
ologists tell us that there is in man
an organ and faculty Of destructirs-
ness-that. when unregulated, it in
spires cruelty; that it is the root Of
that horrible pleasure which the old
Romans had. aud their modern des-
cendants still have, in murderous glad
iatorial shows, contests Of wild beasts,
bull-6ghts, etc.
But there runs through modern civ
ilized society vein of the same quail
ity. People that would faint to see a
gush Of blood, and who think them
selves Christians, have . lively en-
joyment in witnessing pain, and cul-
tivate the art of inaicting it. The
mention Of a few Of the methods en-
Ployed will make good my remarks:
The delight with which many re-
port bad news; the eagerness with
which they report to people evil say
ings which cannot but lacerate the
feelings, show a morbid love Of suf-
fering. This is not the trait of viii
famous natures. 1t existsin people Of
real kindness of disposition. tits not
anomalous, because il is SO widely
extended as to seem normal.
Some people scatter pain-produ-
cling elements thoughtlessly, and are
surprised and sorry when they wit
ness the suffering produced. Others
do it for momentary pleasure, with
out meaning any serious results. But
now and then we find persons who
love to torment victim.
They enjoy another suiferings. 1t
is their happiness to see some one
made keenly miserable by their
lance-like tongue. They will smile,
and talk in low, sweet tones, and
shoot out quivering sentences, poison
tipped, and cast look sideways to
see il they strike, and at every sign
Of pain their face grows bright.
In part this is latent ambition.
People thus assert their power over
Others. It raises one in his own esti-
nation to perceive that he can con-
troll the moods Of another.
But there is a still more common
exhibition of the love of suffering. It
is seen in the ignoble, but universal
Art Of Teasing.
We see it in its most unregulated
form among children. who nip and
pinch each other. make up mouths,
twitch each others clothes, run off
with toys, push and 'jOggle." point
with insulting fingers, and in q hum
dred ingenious ways strive to make
each other miserable. As they grow
mp. il often happens that young peo-
pie carry on 9 campaign Of teasing,
each one vieing with another which
shall be the sharpest.
Il does not cease with youth.
Grown folks. gOOd-natured, kind
hearted. well-meaning. and full Of
benevolence. often show this perverse
spirit in the midst Of all their kind |
ness. By sharp speech, by vailed |
sarcasm. by exciting curiosity which |
they will not crafty. by narratine |
pretended facts. BY sinister compli- |
meuts. BY rallying one when circum-
stances forbid > reply. BY equivOcal
praise. BY blunt telling OF some truth |
that had been better left unsaid, and |
by hundreds Of ingenious ways which |
time wOuld fail to tell. people infict
pain upon each other.
Those who in the main are striving |
70 make friends happy. viii have one |
black thread in the web az white. |
Those who really love each other have |
. strange fOndness Tor stirring each |
other up.
There is an innocent and sven plea
surs-prOdueing method Of rallymg |
which. if deftly and gracefully done, |
heightens the enjoyment Of society. |
One may touch a discord il it lapses
into q true chord. Sometimes. when |
We have good news to tell. We are be-
wisched with . desire to open TIE
la.ssier - il Il were g,eat trouble