Middletown transcript., 1901-08-10
POETIC JUSTICE

A JerSeyInan VINO Went out IOr pleas
ure-driye with his sweetheart not long
ago received needed, though rather
severe lesson on the necessity of being
humane to animals in this day and gen.
Grafton It was a very hot day, and when
the di.Yc was about half over the horse
became balky. The driver thereupon
lost his temper and gave the animal an
unmerciful beating. A constable saw
him and promptly arrested him for cruelty
to animals. He was unable to pay the
money, and his companion settled the
business for him. Then she went home,
and wrote him a note, and this was what
it said:
"When man will so brutually beat
horse and SO easily lose his temper, a
woman marrying him would take the
chance of the same treatment"
And the rest of the note released him
from the engagement.
Most people will be of the opinion that
the young lady in question did exactly
what was right, and that she was fortu-
nate in discovering the disposition of her
finance before instead of after marriage
Insensibility to the pain of another is
not trait which is particularly desirable
in either a husband or wife. While, of
course, it is not to be inferred that every
man who will beat his horse will also
beat his wife, cruelty to animals so vita
tes the moral nature that those percep-
tions upon which a sense of justice
depends are blunted. The intimacy of
marriage is so close that happiness can
only exist where there is mutual forbear-
ance together with certain sensitive
ness to the feelings of others. The man
who does not possess this sensitiveness
may not be actually cruel to either wife
or children, so far as physical mal-treat-
ment is concerned, but he will say
and do things which are quite as
brutal as blow with whip would
be. There are a dozen considera-
tions which are likely to restrain him
from wife-beating-the opinion of his
neighbors, custom, fear that his wife
may 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 if his nature is ESSENTIALLY cruel he
will find ways to torture those dependent
upon him which are worse than any
physical pain. The true test of mans |
character is not to be found in his actions |
when he is restrained by public sentiment |
or fear of consequences. He is his real
self when he is free to act, to indulge |
or passion, or cruelty, toward |
some creature which cannot retaliate and
has no means of defence The Jerseyman
who is the unenyiable hero of the Incl |
lent above recorded was subjected to the
sest, and apparently he failed. He may
have had an idea that by his lack of con-
'ideration for his horse he was showing a |
manly and stern strength of character
which would impress the girl in the seat
beside him. Some men have an idea |
hat women rather admire those who |
ire capable of cruelty. These men are
rying to fit sixteenth century ideas into |
wentieth century civilization. 1t can
lot be done. 1t is true that women admire
brave man, and often the man in ques-
ion is soldier or hunter, but there is
very fine distinction between the brave
nan and the man who is ever ready to
nfict pain. What the modern girl sees
o admire in the soldier is not his willing
less to shoot other men, but his readiness
0 be shot himself; not his murderous
impulses, but his sacrifice of personal
afety. The kind of woman who would
Ike a man better after seeing him act
ruelly toward helpless animal is not
t for civilized country.