The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-05-05
SensitlVeness

The sensitive plant, that shrinks from
the touch, is rightly regarded as oceu-
pyiug & high place IL the vegetable
world. When its delicate leaves are
seen dropping from contact with the
f0ger, we might fancy it gifted with a
| sort Of consciousness, by which L can
not only feel, aad perhaps suffer but
also Tisibly attempt to withdraw from
suffering. 1t Is an interesting OBJECT to
notice, hatsyer may be our specula-
tions iu regard TO 1t, and we naturally
have strong interest in plant so curl
ously endowed.
Some men and women IN our most
civilized c0mmunitiea seem q be very
much akin to this little shrub. heir
une Distinguishing characteristic Is SEN
,itiveness. Tney are easily hart, easily
irritatsd, easily offended. They trans
| late every touch, however innocent or
even friendly, into an intent 70 trouble
or annoy them; they are CONSTANTLY ian
cying sights, susPecting Insults, imag-
lining ridIcule, dreading censIre- Of
course they have their fair share Of real
grievance 70 depl0re, aud when 70 these
are added the countless imaginary ones
which a morbid fancy suggests we can
not wonder that they are IN continual
distress; aud If we cannot accord them
our respect sc should not refg-e them
our sy5 pIthy.
II seems somewhat strange, howe ger,
that any one should plume himself upon
50 unfortunate disposition, yet such rs
often the fact. People who thus suffer
attribute il 10 no morbid or suspicious
temperament, but o an acute sensitive
IF ,agEs ss.h tkau 1THpT RrgHn
thqn otherwise. They conceive them
selves to be Of finer grain than their
more cheerful and trusting neighbors;
they are quicker TO notice, keener to
feel, and therefore exposed TO sufferings
that coarser or dulier nature will never
be troubled with On this account they
claim more consideration: they think
people should be specially careful not to
wound or vex them, because they are so
sensitive. What would be only Ordina
ry behavior to most persons, they esteem
cruelty to them, because Of their deli
cate organization.
What is still more remarkable about
this class of persons is that their sensl
tiveness exhausts itself upon themselves.
We might suppose that, with feeling so
acute, they would be extremely careful
of the feelings of others, yet such is not
usually the case. Indeed, some of those
who claim the most on this score give
the least With all their keen suscepti-
bility to suffering, they do not hesitate
to infict it heeQlessly upon those around
them. Their Imagination, active enough
in their own behalf, fails utterly in be-
half of others. Keen and acute on one
side, they are dull and apathetic on The
other. Alive to the least slight or neg
lect shown to them tfering from the
smallest unkindness, wounded by for
getful or a thoughtless antion-they can
yet speak hard and cruel words, show
open scorn or scatter scathing rebuke
without apparently any appreciation of
the pain they bestow.
Is sensitiveness then sc fatal gift
that we should prefer to be dull Of com
prehensiou? No faculty is ever better
for being dull. But when it is only
sharpened by selfshness It's mission ge
mains unperformed 1t is then only a
means of personal pain. whereas It's true
purpose is wide and general diffusion
Of happiness. This purpose, however,
cannot be fulfilled unless we interpret
truly its messages. 4 healthy sensitive
ness accepts the pain which 1t must bear
as wholesome medicine, not dwelling
upon its bitter taste, not upbraidlng
those who hand 1t, not regarding it as a
permanent evil, but simply using it for
self improvement. At the same time it
gladly welcomes all the pleasant tidings
which are thus brought to knowledge
1t is as keen to feel the good as the evil,
and finds in it much larger proportion.
Ii is q poor, one-sided sensitiveness that
feels only the cold winds of-neglect or
criticism or dispeasure, and is dead to
the sunny influences of kindness, esteem,
sympathy aud love. IF the same sensi-
bility that now quivers under the one be
but quickened u receive the other, life
will have far happier days in store than
it has yet disclosed.
Above all, acute sensibilities are in
tended as 9 direct means of inspiring
generous impulses and cultivating be-
nevolent character. They are no longer
a torment, but blessing to him who is
always sensitive for Others as well as
himself The pleasure and pain .e feels,
and the sources to which be traces each,
are his continual guides to show him
how to diffuse the one and to mitigate
the other in his inter course with man.
kind Nothing is more selfish than a
narrow, one sided, elf-pitying sensitive
ness; nothing more ennobling than a
sensitive spirit, keenly alive to all good
influences and delighting to use them
FOR the welfare and happiness Of man
kind.-Philadelphia Ledger.