Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-11-08
TWO STREET-CAR INCIDENTS.
A Mans nl-COncealed Grief and q WOm-

A Mans nl-Concealed Grief and q Wom-
ans Stratagem.
Written for the Courier-Journal.
The whole world is ashamed OF
its tears. 1t wants everybody to
know when it rej0ices and see its
smiles; but it hides its wounds and
weeps alone. -a
Tears are useful as emotional
jewels in literature, but m real life
they are not respected. .-.-
On street-car one day saw two
examples of the bitterness of tears
which could not be concealed from
the public's unsympathetic gaze.
A good looking yonng German,
of the comfortable middle class, got
aboard. The conductor collected
his fare and the car jolted on, the
business OF perforating each other
with their eyes being continued by
the silent passengers, with the Gus
tomary inflexible impudence and
insistence.
The young German was uncom-
Portable. He was suffering mental
anguish, and was making heroic
efforts to conceal it from the pierre
ing rows OF eyes opposite him. The
muscles OF his smoothly shaven face
twitched nervOusly; he moved
uneasily in his seat and vainly tried
to find a way to lolk which would
give some relief. OF course every
body saw his embarrassment and
looked at him with special interest.
Ordinary humanity is not over
charged with delicacy, even when
it is most sympathetic.
The young man furtively wiped
his eyes, which were gushing with
tears, while affecting to merely rub
off his forehead. He turned around
and looked out of the window behind
him, and held his face steadily to-
ward the sky to keep the tears from
escaping in a triekling stream down
his face. More staring: more Curl
Gus interest in his ill-concealed tor.
lures.
In his desperation he forgot that
he had paid his fare, and, fishing In
his pocket, brought to light another
nickle, which he handed toward
the conductor. That functlonary
saw but did not accept the coin.
He simply helped the passengers to
look at him.
"Did / pay my fare 9'' asked the
poor man, trying to control the
sobs In his voice.
81 guess So" answered the con-
ductor.
Then the Germans self-control
gave way, his nervous tension snap
ped, and as the cOpious tears Rushed
forth, he walled: "Oh, my little
little girl is dead, and 1 don't know
what Pm doing"
The passengers were touched, but
they did not take their eyes from
him, and it was no time to put their |
sympathy in words. Unable to |
their gaze in his broken
the young man sud- |
denly left the car. His honest grief |
could not be carried in the sight OF |!
Other human beings, all of whom
had suffered and wept, like himself.
He had scarcely disappeared
when a young girl and an elderly
woman entered together. The girls
Eyes were swimming in tears, which
'oon refused to stay within the pre-
icribed limit, yet the thought OF
citing all these strangers see her
weep was even bitterer than the
orrow that had started her to weep
ng. The elder woman look troubled
tut she had stronger nerves. She
to her companion
Hold your handkerchief to one
we all the time, then everybody
will think that your eye, not your
leart, has been hurt"
The young girl acted on the sug-
.estion without replying. She held
he handkerchief in a wad over her
light eye, as though il could not
ear the light, and continued to
weep without attracting attention.
he other passengers saw nothing
ut q woman with a disabled eve,
nd after glance or two ceased to ,
box at her. [ was struck with the i
1isdom of the sad little stratagem. !
wound in the eye was not thing
D be ashamed OF. 1t excited no NOR I
id curiosity or humiliating pity
ut wound on the soul must be
idden. ALICE LEE WATSON.
Philadelphia, Oct. %.