Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-04-11
A WISE sELFisHNEss.
xv,., We Have "a Right TO Defend our
nlyes Against BOress

xv,u We Have Right 10 Defend Oar
selves Against BoreA
Tho genial "Autocrat Of the Break
tast.table." whose kindly heart pleads
for human weakness always, justihes us
In protecting ourselves against bores'
against people who rob us OF vitality as
well as time, for he lays down this as
confessional ad vice: "MarlS this which
i am going to say, for 1T is as good as
working professional mans dvice' ana
costs nothing. 1t Is better to lose punt
of blood from your veins than to nave
nerve trapped. Nobody measures your
nervous force as it runs away, nor
bandaqes your brain and marrow AFTER
tho onera tion" Is there any moral law
that demands we shall waste our lie
forces? that we should allow the drones
tn san the strength needed to fultill our
legitimate duties?
some people are like sieves-they
come empty and go away empty, and II
YOU should meet them the next honf you
would fnd that you could carry on the
same conversation on the Same PM
losophy. declare the same theories, and
thew would be new. Should any sensible
/ person allow himself to be used as a
social jun ping jack the clown for an
idle hour? Some people will demand
sympathy, feeding their morbid desires
/ by drawing on the very life-blood of an
other.
There comes to mind woman to whom
heavy sorrow had come, who day after
day called on II nervous, hlgh-strung
neiphbor, "because she was so sympa-
thetic." she explained, until the little
neichbor fell victim to nervous pros
tration. 81 knew" said the sick woman,
al did her no good, because every day
she came back in just the same state OF
mind. do not know which wore on me
most the being compelled to listen to
the same story, or the constant dread OF
her appearance, and disgust at my own
lack OF courage" The Borrowing one
was not comforted unto strength, and
she brought down her victim as surely
as if pistol or poison had been the
medium she used, The state does not
recognize this method of killing as a
crime but society does, though it has
not vet found a measure for protection
beyond individual effect. "You heard
that Mrs had fortune left her
large enough to keep her comfortably"
said one friend to another, speaking o.
common acquaintance. EYES," was
the response, given with animation, 'ant
I'm quite as glad for her friends as fol
her. You know we never heard from he
when she was comforta ble-only wheI
she was in trouble. | dreaded to have
her call land yet liked her much), 70
knew | was doomed to tale of woe
never heard her say cheerful word
and if YOU tried to make her cheerful
she only looked at you reproachfully
A call from her meant day of exhaus
ton or depression. Yes, this money /
great comfort to her friends" was tn
close of the conversation.
Why should we allow a nerve to b
, tapped when there is no gain by tn
operation? We must stand the opera
ton many times in life to accomplis
purpose We must smilingly submit
70 the operation again and again, pull
licly and privately; but are we bound t
endure it when we have no purpos.
and know that the result is loss, an
q loss of that which is most precious an
. valuable? Sure it is that, soone
a or later, we must grow hardened if W
), throw away the divine attribute of SYN
:. pathy, if we waste the forces given fc
4 use We can not protect ourselves frol
a the feeling, What is the use?' An
n that which sparkled in the light of d
y vine approval becomes turhd, becauS
a that which troubles it is internal, nj
: external; the outlet is choked.
# We are bound to help each other, b,
T we are not bound to play the part
! Atlas and carry world. We can on
v help whore there is receptivity; we ca
!. only help, in the true sense, whel
If there is a capacity and desire for sci
If help; and this is as true in the soci
% world as in the philanthropic worl
v We rob not only ourselves, but tho
a who need us, when we lavishly sper
ia that which was meant for investment
# Christian Union.