El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-08-26
A Pugilistic Protector
The Quick Tempered Lover Has
Neglected the Lesson of
Self Control
- BY Beutrfce Fairfax
by Beatrice Fairfax =
AN engaged to be married to q

\ y q
man some years my senior. "
writes Lillian May, and a short
J time ago he invited me to meet his
| relatives, who live some distance from
my home. On the trolley car a man
gave me a seat, while my fiance stood
before me talking 1t was near the
entrance of the car door, and the con-
ductor, coming along. said: Move up
front there TO my escort, who paid no
| attention, but continued his CONVERSE
ton with me. The conductor, return
ing, and seeing his command unobeyed
gave my friend a shove with his arm,
saying: Didn't tell you to move up2
| at which my escort, burning with wrath,
proceeded, with well directed blows to
beat the conductor. In an instant the
car was in panic. and 1 alone sat
calm, thinking, That is the man I
am to marry
Some days later. as 7 was consid-
ering whether or not to break the en-
gaSement on this account I brought
the matter TO the attention of a friend,
who disputed with me, saying that such
a man is manly and to be admired and
would protect me through life. l hold
that such man is Uncouth and low
ana common, and would like to know
whether you would advise breaking the
engagement or nOt2"
The best husband I ever knew was
man who, on one occasion, got into
serious fight in crowd because
some one showed him. This is not told
with the intention of proving that the
pugilistic man, the one who carries
CHIP on his shoulder is the one with
the mak1ngs of the best husband in
him / tell it, rather for the purpose
of assuring Lillian May that this little
incident is not q keynote to his char
acter, and that if she condemns her
lover, and gives him up because of
this unfortunate display of temper,
she may 90 through life unwed or
select for her companion man so
unlike her present fiance that his an
sWer to knock down blow Will be to
brush off his clothes and beg the par
don of the one who floOred him.
No Proof.
The display of temper was unfortu-
nate and i'll advised, but it does not
prove that the man is ''uncouth low
and common" There is some justifica-
ton for his behavior, and every man
who has been addressed by a street
car empIoye as If he were one of a
number of dumb cattle, being prod
ded and driven into pen' will be
quick to see it
The conductors intentions were with
in his rights His manner wasn't This
man resented it We all resent such
treatment every hour Of the day, but
remain silent. 1t is part Of the price
we pay for the privilege of living
where we are crowded and pushed and
showed till all dignity and individuality
are crowded and showed out of us.
AS a man thinketh, so he is" and
and the longing occasionally to be one
OF every woman for every self respect
ing man and woman, with a backbone
and a regard for his or her rights. as
well as for the rights of others. occa-
slonally longs to take a punch at some
one whose manner is insulting. or who
digs with a sharp elbow, or jabs with
an umbrella.
Self respect has saved the skin of
many an offender, and unfortunately,
his skin is saved so often by those who
re1uSe 10 be mixed up in a braWl that
he grows more and more offensive,
and does not know when he has
passed the dividing line between his
rights and the rights of others, until
some quick tempered individual like
Lillian Mays lover shows him.
We are all so many children with
our text books before US. The con-
ductCr needs to learn that a gracious
manner viii do more than one that is
offensive and that firmness is not the
twin Of rUdeness.
Limitations.
The quick tempered lover has neg
lected the lesson on self control The
blow IS poor argument The man
his fists never gets very far with his
brains
And even Lillian May. shy, digni-
fled little maid. with a commendable
those who. having left their school
days behind them, are taking in the
painful school Of experience a post
graduate course.
She is too quick to condemn; too
harsh to a man whose saving grace
is his love for her; she is too IN
charitable She has yet to learn that
the way to make man better is TO
think he is better than he is No
man was ever made honest by being
called a thief
To tell this man he is low. uncouth
and common viii lose Lillian Nav
lover, and make him what she describes
him.
II the messenger Of love has a
saucy, independent manner, and is
quick to take offence, and resent il,
II should be remembered in his favor
that the impetuOus heart is often the
warmest Quick to fight for himself.
ne would be quicker TO protect the wo-
man he loves.
There is a dividing line between ruff
fianism and chivalry. and time. which I
so soon cools the blood. will teach /