Daily Republican., 1889-11-15
THE ART OF DISCOMFORT.

lnlhts, unnappny, not one OF the lost
arts. Would that " wasl
Most Of us are scqualnted with people
who practice 1t, and who are by no meaus
amateurs, 80 great Is the PERFECTION to
which they bave brought their skill.
These artists are not content with being
uncomfortable themselves, but they feel
sensible satisfaction IN making others
breathe the atmosphere they create, Of
initiating their fel ows in the art of so
living, seeing, hearing, that discomfort Is
surely attained.
1t 10 rather a grievance to them when
the happy-tempered Individual says plain
ly that be prefers to let things slide than
to be always Analysing with the view OF
finding occasions OF fault and causes of
woe.
The uncomfortable person is continual
ly worrying himself or others.
One OF bis special recipes for worrying
Is, to act in fiat contradiction to the
good old saying which points out the use.
letsness of crossing bridges before you
come to Them"
No; the Individual we know SO we'll -
for who does not number one at least
among his acquaintauces?-is always
living In the future.
We would forgive him were he DWELL
ing on pleasant prospects, and making
hope and courage shed golden glo "
over yet untrodden paths.
But this indeed he will not do.
He objects to hope on principle; he
thinks the Micawber tendency of expect
Ing something good TO turn up 10 the
mark OF fool, and that despondency
and fear are characteristics of the wise.
When any trouble comes TO this person
he usually says he expected 1t, and not
content with trying to bear 1t as best he
can, lie insists that 1t Is the precursor Of
another, and he quotes old saws about cit
never rains but 1t pours," and "troubles
never come singly," etc.
You may do your best In trying to
show him that, dark as his sky Is just
then, there Is bit Of blue to be seen, and
that the clouds may lift after awhile.
He says the blue sky exists only in
your Imagination, and that the possibility
of its enlarglng by the dispersion of the
clouds is due to your very unfeeling want
of sym pathy In or perception Of the real
state OF the case.
On the other hand, when the sky Is
bright, and the sun shines, and the way
to tread Is free from stones, yet the artist
In the art OF discomfort will not enjoy
himself.
He says 1t is all very well now, but that
the sky may become overcast, the sun be
hidden behind cloui, aud that II there
are no stones in the way, very probably
there are some a few yards further,
He will not take the present, and be
happy In 1t, but makes capital out OF re-
miniscences oil past troubles, and Argues
from them the chance Of their being re-
peated.
Now, as we try in vain to represent TO
our friend, there is no use In forecaeting
trouble.
Sorrows that are anticipated and dread.
ed rarely come In the exact form In which
they are prellgured in our imagin alton,
and even II they do, there are conditions
and circumstances connected with them
OF which, with all our foretelling, we had
no Idea.
To be strong and brave 10 the worlds
warfare-to be, to use the English word,
which obstinately refuses to be adequate
ly translated into any other tongue
comfortable, is to live, in sense, a day
at time.
To take certain care of the future, so
far as provided for our own and the
wants OF others, 10 Of course q plain duty,
but to be continually looking forward to
Popo'pip hiSt VI uWClhuB hccui6bSiy on
the advent OF those that are probable, is
waste OF time and a source OF moral
enerval1On.
Where there Is the sunshine and the
cloudless Ornament, let us be thankful
and enjoy them; but this our friend, as
we have seen, will not do.
Another OF the technicalities of this
art is to grunble.
The uncomfortable person we are
thinking Of likes to grumble.
And any one who is fond OF this occu-
patton will discover endless reason which
seems to him TO make 1t legitimate.
Surely, as we reflect upon the charac.
ter of this, our mtortable friend, we
shall see how large part grumbling has
In making him what he 10.
And it may be we'll to say here, en- pas
SAINT, that the habit Of complaint, grum.
bling, and expression Of discomfort grows
very rapidly.
1t can be broken, for no habit 10 too
strong to Withstand the force of persis.
tent desire and will to be free from 1t, and
this is one which should be nipped In the
bud.
Not alone does 1t affect the individual
himself, but 1t is most infectious.
The safest way 10 to use selt-Testraint
In the matter of expressing needless COM
plant.
Everything becomes more real when 1t
has been clothed with words, and once
the grumbline remark has been uttered it
makes the second easier, and SO on until
3 Respondent view is taken of everything
and everybody.