The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-09-26
Gratitude and its Expression.

One might suppose that gratitude would
always find for itself proper expression, and
so, perhaps, it will when it is deep and
heartfelt, but the emotion itself and its eX-
preston act and react upon one another
and some little pains should be used to give
expression to gratitude that the feeling it.
self may be preserved. When child is
happy it laughs; the reverse is, to limited
extent. also true. that is, if you can induce
"a child to laugh you make it happy. The
highly emotional actress feels that which
she depicts, and what seems to be Won
.derful effort of art is the result of the action
and reaction of expression and feeling. The
mimic life to such natures is almost as eX-
bausting as the real, and it has cor
'respondingly powerful effect on spectators.
There are some people who habitually eX-
,ercise themselves in a repression of emo
tiOnal expression. and they end by loss of
:sensitiveness. Such a kindly good feeling
as that of gratitude ought to be nOuriShed
rather than repressed, and to that end it
should be given free expression. When a
friend does one a favor it should be ac-
.knowedged by eye and lips and by action,
too; when sacrifices are made for ones
benefit the grateful heart should speak out
and acknowledge the kindness. 1t should
do more than this; it should prompt the
beneficiary to returning deeds of kindness.
Thus may gratitude when given free eX
preston be made to contribute to ones
moral welfare by promoting generosity and
depressing selfshness. There is. of course.
an extreme to be avOided-etfusve graft
tude which savOrs of and leads to hypoc
riSy. But there is no danger of committing
this fault if care be taken to be honest and
true; saying no more than that which the
heart dictates. There are some people. not
naturally ungrateful. who, through follow
ing bad social customs. develop GOODNESS
of demeanOr that Injuries them in the esti-
nation of others and may do them real
harm. They uncOnsciOusly become more
and more selfish as they become strangers
to the expression of gratitude. They ac-
~cept favOrs with the barest acknowledge
ment, and if surrounded by relatives or
friends disposed to ''spoil" them. gradually
come to look upon service to them as some
thing they have right to demand. They
are ready to receive all. to give nothing in
love or sacrifice, and this more as result
of habit than of any natural fault in char
acter and disposition. Who has not seen
two friends-husband and wife. perhaps
one of whom pays all the homage, which
the other more or less graciously receives?
But such bondage seldom lasts through life.
Some day there comes an awakening, the
slave opens his eyes and sees that all his
wealth OF love is unappreciated and is
given no return; his bonds may not be
wholly broken. but he can no longer serve
as before, blindly and uncOmplainingy.
Yet his companion may not be wholly UNI
grateful or selfish but only be at fault in
not giving proper expression to the hearts
feelings. Silence is usually commended.
but there are times when silence is more
cruel than speech. The fault is more COM
mon with men than with women, for the
former sometimes think it degrading to
give expression to the love that is in their
hearts. especially after their marriage.
They accept their wives attentions as
matter of course. are really grateful and af-
.fectiOnate in their hearts. but are not
'''demOnstrative' as their wives explain;
they never indulge in caresses, speak kind
words, or show by manner or expression
that they appreciate or return the love be-
slowed upon them. Their silence may be
as cruel to their loving partners as unkind
words. for it is not every woman who can
divine that her silent husband. who never
reproacheS but never cOmmends. is more
her lover than in the days of their court
ship. 1t is not fair or honest to withhold
expressions of love or gratitude, to hide the
heart from ones helpmeet. The customs
of good society which restraints man from
playing the lover i'm public to his wife
should at least be ruled out of the house
hold, where the fullest expression should
be given to the hearts feeling of sympathy,
love and gratitude. Baltimore Weekly
Sun.