The Indianapolis journal., 1884-11-23

after you have started for the shop door.
Something less violent than strychnia might
cure the fellow who, with exasperating itera-
ton, blandly and idiotically demands of you,
"What do you know9'
But while homeopathy in minute concrete
may furnish antidotes to the thousand and
one mental ills that mar and destroy domestic
felicity, it is not yet apparent that the similia
similibus rule will work among the children
of men. The cross man with an atrabilious
temperament is not going to be cured by
like quality in nervous, dyspeptic wife; nor
will it afford relief to a man with hereditary
cOrns to unite his fortunes and mis-
fortunes with woman who has
in her own right bunion of proportions.
The man who scolds will hardly be softened
by scolding wife, and if he be, it ceases to
be homeopathic, in that the dose assumes
the remedy is not even less desirable than the
disease. Only too often scolding begets re-
elimination, fault ltfnding. querulous disposi-
ton on the part Of the other. Swearing is in
vain, for in cases where ''as good" is not
sent back the victim will sulk, an
offense little if any less vicious than
profanity. We may be pardoned if we ex-
press doubt of the efficiency of drugs, in
quantities measured by the potencies or by
the grain, as working any cure directly on
the emotions of man. A whining man or
smiling woman may be such because of
dyspepsia or hysteria. Now, these physical
ailments may be remedied and the strain
drawn of, and the man or woman rescued
from the demon of ill-heath. 1t is vain,
however, to prescribe pepsin for the dyspepsia
arising from ill-cooked food, or digitalis
for hysteria resulting from continued i'll usage.
1t is not contended that i'll ltemper is incur
the doctor in such cases. In nine cases out
of ten the only effectual remedy is at hand
without crossing the threshold to get it. Is
the wife petulant without apparent cause, let
the husband see to it that his unintentional
neglect is not responsible for it. If he be
cross and Grabbed, the fault may lie in the pas
try, the biscuit or the indigestible
meat. The thoughtful woman will
rectify any failing in this respect, and it is
safe to say that the man who has been accus-
toned to such fare whether he has succumbed
to indigestion or not, will be quick to appre-
ciate a change for the better An irascible
temper will be tanned more quickly by gentle
ness and attention than by probably any other
means. The man or woman not responsive to
studied attentions and sincere attempts to
please isn't fit to be pleased, and no amount
of remedy will take tho snarl out of their
tongues and the sour out Of
their souls. But it pays to be
pleasant If the rule must read similia
non similibus curantur in matters of mental
and spiritual phenomena it is apparent to the
wise and experienced that good spirits, at least,
do not retard the development of the better
elements of human nature. A song is sun
shine to the soul; a laugh the twinkle Of
star in the night Let laughter and song ex-
orcise the evil spirits of unreasonable discon-
tent, and watchfulness over the comfort of
each other drive away the demon
of unrest and discomfort There
is a surplus of vinegar in the human salad
Do your part toward supplying the oil. Some
like a little sugar. Let them have it, and
don't be stingy about it. Hand them the
bowl and spoon, and then turn your back.
And if you find that those around you will not
be companionable, but persist in peevishness
and petty meaaness, don't worry about them,
but go singing on your way and thus
avoid the moral dyspepsia that robs life of its
zest and heaven Of its blessed assurances.
SCARLET PEVER