The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-08-08
SENTIMENT.
ny Il. x. wooLEY.

paUny, DuU sQOeS not court IL.
Many good men have no sentiment.
Many bad men have much.
True sentiment is a wonderful thing, for
with it we may enjoy a beautiful picture;
we may appreciate grand music, know the
shant of a great poets mind, luxuriate in
the whiffs of a fine perfume, acknowledge
the genius of a writer's art, feel the quiz
ering fibers of kindred soul and love God
as he would have us love Him.
Sentimentality is the driveling initial ton
INDUCED in by those who think that to hang
the head on one side and say: isn't it
sweet!' and "Isn't it dear!" and slobber
kisses on everything from puppy dogs to
brass idols is sentiment.
Some folks believe that. kissing every
thing in sight is a fine show OF sentiment.
1t is fine sentiment which picks up a
stray and fea-fitten dog in the street, to
be tenderly cared for while the frail wife
at home keeps the household, does the fam
lily washing and mending and worrying
about the two ends that won't meet
1t is an excellent sentiment that weeps
copiously over pathetic love story and
lets the mother do the kitchen work.
1t is an honorable sentiment that
teaches love to an innocent maiden by mar
ried man.
mands the gentle solicitude of others for
its poetical vagaries, yet neglects with sys-
tematic care thoughtfulness for the senti-
ments Of others.
Some folks idea of sentiment is sad,
sweet smile.
True sentiment don't sigh like blast
furnace. Its eyes are not continually wa
terry. 1t don't slobber
'Trua sentiment can take Meas, in
field of flowers without ruthlessly pluck
ing them to be carelessly fondled awhile
and then thrown away.
In my neghborhood livest a little Ger
man woman She is a womanly, round
little thing, and her husband is big blonde
Dutchman. They have been married %
years. He keeps Il harness-shop about half
mile from his home.
Every evening the round little German
woman leaves her home and trots over to
her husbands store. Every evening he
waits until she comes. Then he takes
down his hat and together they start back
home.
If its pleasant evening they stroll along
leisurey, arm in arm. Maybe they'll stop
in somewhere and get bag of peanuts,
which they MUNICH on the way. If its warm
they stop in the drug store for drink of
soda. If it happens to be raining or cold,
he snuggles her tightly under his arm
Their faces are the faces of innocent, happy
children. They love each other. They trust
each other. They are man and wife, and
true comrades, she in her woman'S way he
in his mans way.
But she doesn't forget to give him good
meals and pleasant and orderly home.
Nor does he neglect to provide the where
withal therefor.
That is sentiment
/ know another woman. No children
are more kissed than her children. None
are dirtier. None are more practically I'M
cared for. She knows baby talk and love
words by the yard, and often have l seen
her weep over the illness of some little tot
or a bereaved woman's sorrow, or a mis-
fortune that has befallen a neighbor. But
her own Gttlest one crept unmatched into
the street one day when the mother was
weeping at neighbours funeral and met
its death under the wheels of passing
truck.
True sentiment is not all caresses 1t can
spank at the proper time. It's not above
mending a torn pinafore, or having the
breakfast ready in time, or darning an oc-
casional pair of stockings.
True sentiment won't let the house go
dirty and the children unwashed and the
husband united, to go galivanting around
to church charities.
True sentiment weeps not for the un,
clad heather, but attends cheerfuly to the
poor at home.
True sentiment doesn't ask an nexperi-
enced girl to take it for better or worse
when there's nothing but the worse to
look forward to.
True sentiment will provide substantial
bread and butter, and keep a lookout for
jam.
True sentiment does not parade itself
where the glare of the public footlights will
fall upon it. Nor does it seek dark corners
for true sentiment is the essence of refine
ment, and its thoughts and its actions can
never be shameful
A man that | used to know prided him.
self upon being sort of Sentimental
Tommy. He was man who yielded to
every impulse. He was proud that he did
it. He boosted of his ltra-sentimentalism
He made friends-stanch friends-when he
desired, and had no conjunction in
thrusting them aside when he had finished
with them. He would move heaven and
earth for a woman's love, and when his
vanity and fancy were served, he could drop
the incident without qualm of conscience
And II neglected frlend-one whose TREND
ship he had courted by every vile when the
whim was upon him-should complain, he
would drop his eyes, and sadly murmur:
"They do not understand mel They are
so coarsegrained! | should not be blamed
for what | cannot help. 1t is my nature
They are not true friends ii they cannot
sympathize with me-"
That mans wife is a hardened silent,
disappointed woman. She, who perhaps
had been won with all the ardor of ultra.
sentimentalism," had to swallow the dregs
of that bubbling cup.
The ultra sentimentaist should not be
allowed TO operate without license.
Never marry sentimentalist. If YOU
have one in the family, and he is incurable,
bear with him if you must But don't take
on another.
A woman who likes to be sentimental is
mighty tiresome when she gives you sen
timent in boiled coffee, UNDERGONE potatoes,
an untldy appearance and too much love
A man who is IA sentimentalist is worse. 1t
is the man who is a little respectful little