The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1904-12-03
LITTLE AND BIG on svANoRs.
Lancnafer fBnl Ennminer

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II is pretty difficult to account for that con Z.
d.iun of mind that is constantly conjuring up
a grievance and In sense luxuriating in it.
Nobody really wishes to have ground for COM
planning. nor does anybody ever deliberately
seek occasion for grief. Yet we all know many
men and women, and even some races, who
seem as if the possession of grievances were
necessary to their full content; The odd thing
is that the mental habit is consistent with al
most all the virtues, even cheerfulness-a viz
tue to which we do not attach half enough i'm
portance-and is not infrequently found in
persons with a keen sense of humor. II has,
we are inclined after much reflection to be-
lieve, two principal sources. one being that kind
of elfimportance from which vindictiveness
springs. The man is so important to himself
that an injury, real or fancied, rankles forever,
gives his mind at intervals an unending occu-
patton, and is either brooded over, in which
case there is danger to the mental balance or
comes, to the despair of his friends, perpetual
~ to the mouth. 1t may be doubted If man
without secret vanity could luxuriate.. in
grievance The other cause is undoubtedly the
thirst for distinctiveness The victim believes
that his grievance is unique, and distinguishes
him from the remainder of his kind. Ii IS to
him exactly what a severe bodily injury or
disease is to section among the poor-a dls-
tinction, something which demands sy mpathy
and appreciation. The best proof that this is the
ultimate source of the habit is the impatience
which those whom it has caught hold of dis
play under any consolation that makes light
of their cause of grief. They feel personally
belittled, and even if not vindictive, set down
that consider ss a callous or unsympathetic
man. He ought to respect the burden, not to
diminish the Impression of its weight.
Half perhaps three-fourths. of the unhappi-
ness of private public and International life
comes from nursing or luxuriating in griev-
ances. small or big. 1t is species OF vanity
for anyone to assert the world is not giving him
his Just deserts. Too many people numb their
faculties by assuming they are unappreciated.
This is the worst kind of grievance to nurse,
as it has no basis in fact but is an exaggeration
of conceit. Again, little misunderstanding be-
come personal dislikes and the spirit of revenge
is cultured by turning them into grievances.
When these enter into public life we have
Blaine Conkling feud which endangers party
supremacy and even national good govern
ment. One of the saddest chapters in the life
of great man was the grievance Conkling so
carefully nursed. 1t has taken England and
our own land more than hundred years to
understand past grievances and write history
correctly. The strong man is not he who has
no likes or dislikes, but who can see griev-
ance in its right proportions. To have con-
tempt for small annoyances and strength TO
meet big ones when they present themselves
makes up sound, philosophic character. So
luxurating in grievance, carrying 1t around
in your vest pocket and presenting it for in
spection on all occasions not only bores friends,
bat gives evidence of mental unsoundness.
-O