Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-06-27
PUBLIC sELFlsHNESS. :.
Disregard Of the Comfort Of Others Be.
cause They Are Unknown.

More and more, as civilization and
refinement soften and make gehtlp
those whom in ml-contemptuous
phrase we are wont to call the Mass
eS,' it is made apparent that contrary
influence is 'a't.sxork among persons
made dominant ny extreme wealth and
lives of injurious luxury, says the New
York Post. To get and held theS best
which the world affords becomes SO
chronic and Imperative an effort with
those who can have 'eveEy thing that
money can buy" that very little con-
sideration is shown to the general pub
lie. outside the small clique which
represents to the individual woman,
"our set"
Thought OF how any personal act OF
particular possession may affect that
great circle of "neighhors," TO the
kindly regard for whom the Scriptures
bid us look carefully, is not consider
ed. ana families who are taught to
love another and are really tender in
the relations of brother and sister are
hopelessly oblivious of The great un-
known.
only by the triiles which in the end
make up the sum of daily comforts ana
discomfnrts can | Illustrate the point
| would make plain. In that mercilcSa
feminine crowd, which pushes and
brushes and elbows its way into Nari~
Gus matinee performances, especially
in that one encountered in the dread
ed five minutes before the first note Of
a Philharmonic rehearsal it is not At
say: "Oh, | beg your pardon. l did
not recognize YOU" Interpreted, thi.
means: Il djd not mind how uncom-
Portable | made 4 str1nger; would
not have cared hoW much | distressed
an unknown woman in this crowd.
There is strong reason for doubling
if the lesson of care for The comfort
and pleasure of the unknown world
with whom We daily touch elbows in
our goinGs out and in is often made
part of the moral obligation we lay
upon our children. It is the poor work
ing girl who most often rises to giVa
an old woman a seat in a crowded car.
or the tired laborer who most fire.
quenty pays this homage 10 gray
hairs.
Theatrical managers ana state
legislatures ana city councils pass
resolutions to prevent the ridiculous
hats and feathers Of Il part of pub
lie audiences from destroying the
pleasure of the remainder. This nui-
sance, worn 10 4 thrcad-like slender
ness of interest by inccssant discus
sion. can only be righted i'll the radical
home centres. where It should 1t
-, ~,
and comforts of the world at large is
the simplest duty Of a genteWoman:
that no one has a right deliberately t.
do anything or Wear anything which is
a public annoyance, that to make on" s
self aggrcssively 4 source of discom-
fort and disappointment forfeits tn,
right to the coveted title Of lady"
1t may readily seem 4 ridiculous al
fusion 10 cite an almost universal
habit, which is hardly hearable in de-
tail and en- masse is to many absolute
ly injurious. but the puffs Of nauseat-
ing odor Which begin to exhale from
the shops of chemists and assail one at
the doors of their friends houses
nerve ones courage to bear being
laughed at. What excuse is there for
that modern torment. the moth
BALI" The exhalations from heavy
wraps and furs for the first winter
months in all places of public gather
ing are too many sensitive persons all
most unbearable and there are con-
ditions of the throat and lungs to
which they are seriously injurious.
Many times it occurs that when the
air becomes impure from the breath
;,,rr of. 4 iI, Il hA
heat of the furnaces seems to increase
the intensity of the creosote and
camphor. women so out from the
church faint and exhausted. and are
long in recovering their equilibrium.
Each owner of a costly wrap, i'll her
eagerness to preserve it at a minimum
of labor. has thought only of her own
property and not given a moments
consideration to the effect upon he"
neighbor or of the quota of discomfort
she Will give wherever she appears.
Doubtless no self-respecting moth
would invade the malodorods territory.
but watchfuneSS and care are equally
effective against them, and if the c@g
has been deposited, all the moth-prcVen-
tive in the world will not destroy It's vi
tality. Against invasion there may be
some value in these compounds but as
er airing, brushings, and examination,
and the enclosure in crackless linen bags.
are a perfect protection. which preserved
the priceless Sahlcs and ermine of our
Grandmothers with a security hat al
lowed them to become heirlooms.
One of the most important shops in
New York, the value of the stock of
which in rare rugs, tapestries. ana car
pets none but an expert might dare to
compute, never uses a chemical defence
of any sort and never loses Il dollar by
moth ravageS. The same care eXerted on
the small number of garments in each in
diVidualS possession would be rewar led
by the same result. and the churches and
theatres and railway ears be free from
doors distinctly reminding one of hos
pitfalls and operating rooms.
The hope of perhaps influencing one of
my sisters to deSist at this season of the
year from the use of these drugs. and, if
storing winter garments and curtains, TO
patroniZe storage places where they are
avoided, on the grouni of kindness to
the public, inspires these somewhat We
hement sentences.
Talking in the midst Of any perform
ance for which people have paid money
to see or hear. and taken the trouble td
attend. is another ong no one would
think of DprDptr IA ting Warn no on tar in