River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-10-08
SnappY People.

We know people so genial that their
face is always full of sunshine and there
is no night there. When they have
trouble, we can scarcely tell whether
they are crying or laughing. The wave
of tears dashing against a bank of
smiles. But we meet others who are
explosive and gunpowdery under slight
provocation. There is such thing (who
would have thought it?) as snappy
editor. When you enter his editorial
rooms he does not look up for a long
while. You stand with your hat in
hand, thinking what a luxury it would
be to be asked to sit down. While you
are meditating the best way of attract
ing his attention, he suddenly looks
over his shoulder and splits out, what
is it?" There is a flash in the eye, and
a venom in the tone that make You feel
yourself a villain, though previously
you had supposed yourself honest. Be
fore you get through telling him what
you want, he is at another editorial.
and he finally puts you off by telling
YOU he cannot attend toyOu now. You
back out with apologies for inter-
ruption, but inwardly resolving that
you will never risk your life again in
an editorial sanctum. There is such a
thing as snappy railroad conductor
When he announces the name of de-
pot he bites off the first letter and the
last syllable. 1t is at your peril you
ask him the name of the next place.
While you are deciding in which of
your eight pockets you put your ticket,
he gapes upon you Vlevourlngly as
much as to say: 81 have you now; you
expected to get ride without paying
for it, ehp" If you venture to tell HIM
that the car is very cold, he will
freeze you still worse with wondering
stare. If you ask nim why there is
no water on the train, he will throw
over YOU the wet blanket of a curt re-
ply, and that is water enough. lie Is
snappy to the old lady who is too long
in getting off and the old gentleman
who is too long getting on; snappy
about where you set your feet, snappy
about where YOU set your valise. Be
fore many miles all the passengers feel
the contagion from having been bitten
by such snappy disposition, and so
they get snappy too. You have noticed
furthermore the snappy merchant.
After YOU have asked certain kind of
goods he halts before showing them, as
much as to say: "Do you really want
to buyp or are you among those who
do nothing but go a-shopping, and are
YOU going to take up my time for no
thingP'' He talks over the counter in
exasperating monosylables. When you
point out defect in the fabric he asks:
'.Do yeu expect to find anything per-
feet under the SUM-" While YOU are
meditating whether or not you had bet
ter take the goods, he says: You
need not have it, if you don't wan it. =
As you quietly suggest that you saw
something little cheaper at the next
store, he bowls at you: GO there and
get it!n As you 60 out he slams the
door after you, and you 60 down the
street with irritations all over You just
because Won came in contact with a
snappy merchant. Suavity is an art
that we all need to cultivate. 1t pays
to be a gentleman or lady. Forcupines
are fit for nothing but museums. Most
of US need to have a smOothing-iron run
over our temples. Many people get
up red heat at moments notice and
do not always cool off so quickly. Some
are like hot journals on the railway
cars-a little friction, and lot they are
on fire, and it takes ice and salt and
waste and time to get things running
smoothly; and then there Is no saying
when they will be on fire again. If we
had more. of the spirit of Him concern
inc whom it is said, "Grace is poured
into Thy lips we would all cease
being snappy.