Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1901-08-09
Poetic Justice.


pl. asure-drive with his sweetheart not
long ago received needed though
rather severe Lesson on the nscess ty
of keirg humane to animsls in this day
and generation 1t was a very hot
day, drive wss about half ovor the
horse became balky The driver then
lQst bis temper and gave the animal
90 unmerciful beating The trouble
began A constable saw him and
.proBptiy rfesteJ hin for cruelty to
animals ilG vas unable to pay the
money, and dis mpanion settled the
Cor him Then abe vent hemo, and
wrote him note aud this was what it
said:
"When mad will so brutually
beat horse and SO easily lose his tenn
Ter, a woman marrying him would
take the chance Of the same treat
ment."
Aad the rest Of the note released
him from the engagement
Mot people will be of the opinion
that the young lady in ques-
ton did exactly what was right. and
that she was fortunate IN discovering
the disposition Of her finance before
instead Of after marriage Insensi-
billy to the pain OF another Is not
trait which is particularly desirable in
either husband or wife. While, Of
course it is not to be inferred thar
every man vino will beat his horse
will also beat his Wit, cruelty to
animals 60 Vitiates the moral nature
that thos1 perceptions upon which .
sense of justice depends are blunted.
The intimacy Of marriage if SO slose
that happiness can only exist where
there is mutual forberance together
with certain sensitigeness to the
feelings OF others Tba man who
does not possess this constituencies
may not be actually cruel to either
wife or children, SO far as physical
trestu ent ID concerned, but he will
say and do things which are quite as
brutal as a blow with whip would be.
There are a dozen considerations
which are likely to restrain him from
wife beating the opinion of his neigh
bors. custom, fear that his wife nav
invoke the law, fear of retaliation by
her relatives, or merely the fact that
it is not usual for American husbands
to express their sentiments in that way.
But il his nature is eventually cruel
he will find ways to torture those de-
pendant upon him which are worse
than physical pain The true test of a
mans character is not to be found in
his aeions when he is restrained by
public sentiment or fear or consequent
ces. He is his real self when he is
free TO act. to indulge in meanRess, tr
Cruelty, toward some creature which
cinDot retaliate and has no means of
defence. The Jerseynan who is the
uqeUviablo hsrp II the incident above
recorded was subjected TO the test, and
apparently he failed He may have
had 50 idea that by his lack of consider
atiiu for his horae he was showing a
manly and stern strength of character
whick you'd impress the girl in the seat
beside him. Some men have an idea
that women rather admire those who
are capsule Of eru.ity These men are
trying to fit sixteenth century ideas into
twentieth century civilization, 1t can
not de done. It is true that women
admire brave man, and often the man
in question is a soldier or hunter. bu,
there is very fine distinction between
the brave man and the man Who is ever
ready to lnfist pain. What the modern
girl seems to admire in the soldier is
not his willingness 10 shoot other men,
but his readiness to be shot himself; not
bis murderous impulses. but his sacrifice
Of personal s,fs'y The kind Of woman
who would like man better after sec :
ing him act cruelty toward helpless
animal is not &, for civilized country.
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