West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-08-29
POETIC JUSTICE.
A Good Example for other 6irls to
Follow.

A Jersey man who went out for
a pleasure-drive with his sweetheart
not long ago received needed
though rather severe lesson on the
necessity of being humane to ami
mails in this day and generation. 1t
was a very hot day, and when the
drive was about half over the horse
became balky. The driver there.
upon lost his temper and gave the
animal an unmerciful beating. Then
the trouble began. 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 a man will so brutally
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 fortunate in discovering the
disposition of her fance before
instead of after marriage. Insensi-
bility 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
that every man who will beat his
horse, will also beat his wife,
cruelty TO animals so vitiates the
moral nature, that those perceptions
upon which sense of justice de-
ponds are blunted. The intimacy
of marriage is so close that happi-
ness can only exist where there is
mutual forbearance together with
certain sensitiveness 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 NAL
treatment is concerned, but he will
say and do things which are quite
as brutal as a blow with a whip
would be. There are a dozen con-
siderations which are likely TO re-
strain him from wife. beating-the
opinion of his neighbors, custom,
fear that his wife may invoke the
law, fear of retaliation by her rela-
tives, 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 meanness, or passion, or
cruelty, toward some creature which
cannot retaliate and mas no means
OF defence. The Jersey man who is
the unenviable hero of the incident
above recorded was subjected to the
test and apparently he failed. He
may have had an idea that by his
lack of consideration 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 that
women rather admire those who are
capable of cruelty. There are men
trying to fit sixteen century ideas
into twentieth century civilization.
1t cannot be done. 1t is true that
women admire a brave man, and
often the man in question is a
soldier or hunter, but there IS
very fine distinction between the
brave man and the man who is ever
ready to inaict pain. What the
modern girl sees to admire in the
soldier is not his willingness to
shoot other men, but his readiness
to be shot himself not his muir
derous impulses, but his sacrifice of
personal safety. The kind Of woman
who would like a man better after
seeing him act cruelty toward a
helpless animal is not fit for a
civilized country.
-
A drummer was travelling toward
Oakland with his new wife and
meeting many courtesies along his