The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1888-07-21
THE DOMESTIC TYRANT.
A wretch who GlorIes 10 Wounding the
Feelings of Others.

Wr0tC0 VINO GIOfle8 In WOuO0lnB tho
Feelings of Others.
No person more completely pos
sesses the power Of creating misery in
his house than the domestic tyrant.
cmbittering. as he does, the lives of his
nearest relatives by his selfshness and
erigeant temper. The great essentials
for happiness in social life are freedom
and trust; but these important elements
are banished out of the little home
world ruled over BY one of these i'm
perious autocrats. He makes it rule
to exhibit the most profound disregard
for the feelings of others. and by an in
diligence in covert sneers. harsh and
insulting words. the self-control of his
victims is sorely tried. Consciousness
of power is no doubt the cause of his
overbearing ways. The domestic ty-
rant always has the highest possible
appreciation of himself His opinion
admits of no question. Being his opin-
ion. it must be right, and in an arbitrary
manner he expects his family to
acquiesce, or to feign acquicscence.
with him on all points. He looks upon
himself in every sense as a superior be-
ing. far above his surroundings. In his
own estimation he is too highly bred
and too refined to support the incon-
veniences of daily occurre noes which
are endured by others. His organize
ton is too sensitive and finely strung
to tolerate small domestic troubles. He.
if any thing, is only too generous and
virtuous; he feels compassion for him
self alone, regretting that the grandeur
of his character is not sufficiently APP
preciated. His most trifing acts are
magniied by him into samples of stu
pendous liberality. In his complete
self satisfaction he announces he Is
only too good in sacrificing himself,
and he laments that he does not re-
ceive the admiration he considers his
due.
He possesses In the highest degree
the power of wounding the feelings OF
others, and by his persistent efforts to
mortify their sensibilities, he appears to
treat that power as an accomplishment,
which he never neglects to display al
every opportunity. The inmates Of
many an apparently happy homo. il
questioned as to the background, would
bear testimony as to wrung hearts,
caused by domestic tyrant No won.
der, with such man for the head Of
the house, there is general sense Of
relief when the front door shuts behind
him. and feeling Of suppressed Joy
when hSuis away. Besides the misery
caused by him to his household, the
domestic tyrant must really experience
a considerable amount of mental dis
comfort himself. He can not fail t.
perceive the sort of change that comes
over the cheerful family party when h
appears or the kind of chill that hi
presence brings. Instinct must tel
him how carefully topics of converse
ton are chosen for the family meals
how much constraint prevails. and wha
strict avoidance of any subject ther'
is that may lead to wrathful question
ings. Curiously enough. out Of hi
home he Is generally the genial. jovia
sort of man. and very likely is lookes
upon as rather good-hearled sort o
fellow. for it is only to his family tina
J he shows his teeth. II Christian at Work