The morning news., 1892-03-27
WHY MEN SWEAR.
Profanity a Ssnseless and Controllable


habit.
Copyright, 1892, BY the United Pres,0
New York, March 26.-Indulgence 1 n
profanity is habit.
Among my acquaintanoes Is a highly
respected, perhaps the most thoroughly
representative Of the old tarry school sea
captain, who comes into this port. On
deck, and particularly during storm and
during moments Of excitement, his pro-
family is wide horlzoned to an extent that
ordinary men need never hope to rival. He
has wife, two boys aud a girl, and an
aged mother. In bis home in London be is
a model son, husband and father.
HIS control OF temper is something mar
velous, for he he's an iufrnity In that
direction which elsewhere seems utterly be-
yond reason in its demonstration. He has
never been known to speak above the ordi-
nary tone OF voice. to utter hasty word Of
reproof or reproach, or to make use Of a
profane word in the presence of any
member OF that family. How do you
account for thatl Obviously he is an
habituel swearer; obviously also, his
habit is under control. for while he indulges
in rip-staving oaths Of tremendous scope at
times and under certain circumstances, at
other times and under other circumstances
he is as mild-mannered man as walks the
imperial footstool. and as careful In the
selection OF his language, as charming in
his department as it is possible TO conceive.
POSSIBILITIES OF ORDINARY. MEN.
Habit is the supreme boss.
/ believe there is no condition, mental,
moral or physical. which cannot be attained
by ordinary men, whether 1t be good or
evil. | believe that 1t is rs easy for q man
to get into the habit of drinking, of swear
ing, Of off .coiorisms in conversation as it is
to roll ball down an incline. On the other
hand, know that a man who has been in
the habit Of drinking, being warned by his
physician, being convinc Sd by his own con-
dition that it is unwise and dangerous, can
stop it with the ease of an expert base ball
catcher.
MILD SORT OF CRANK.
There was an old gentleman once presi-
dent Of bank in Brooklyn, a Scotchmau,
who was an extraordinary illustration of
the power Of habit, and also of the ability
to control habit. Six months 10 every year
he allowed his hair aud beard to grow and
che wed tobacco voraciously. At the ex-
piration of the six months he had his hair
cut and kept it short, he wore no beard,
and used tobacco in no form whatever. Six
months in the year we consider him guy
in respect to the fashion of his hair, and
tobacco. What was he the other six
monthsl
There is no need, however, to go to these
extremes
THE GREAT MIDDLING CLASSES.
The great mass of humanity lives between
the extremes. In this respect we can make
use of the term, the middling classes. The
great mass of US, thank heaven, are of the
middling class. We neither drink too much
nor too little We are not slaves TO the
weed on the one hand, nor prejudiced
against its use or its useism on the other
hand. We don't hesitate 70 express en-
phasis in words that are not irreverent,
nor do we indulge to an offensive ex-
tent in what is technically or ordi-
narily termed profanity. As every
thing, therefore, depends upon ones habits.
and as there Is goOd reasons 90 believe that
the great mejorityof mon and women can
control their halits, II would seem Co me a
good resolution todeterfnine 10 i've IN all
respects moderately. temporarily, whether
II be in mind, body, or estata We can be
intemperate mentally. overworking, quite
as we'll and quite a. easily es we can be lazy
and useless 10 that branch OF our make up.
DRINKING rs A MERE AArTER or HABIT.
/ will show. think, by single nlustra.
ticn, that drinking is a mere matter Of
habit. Without the slightest foar 81 con-
tradiction assert that there are AZ least
~. 600 msn Ia thls city who arink every
dag 10 the wsa< sgisieuous Aquons and
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