The Elbert County tribune., 1917-11-02
Little Problems
6cWarriedL Life
/, 80 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. S>
By
WILLIAM GEORGE JORDAN
(Copyright)
THE SPECTRE OF CONSTANT
JEALOUSY.

WHeu II u1sln Is dIralu 10 Tendrk Ut
the breakfast table, even mildly and
casually, that, from what he has heard.
Cleopatra must have been q beautiful
woman, 1t is fair to assume that the
spectre of constant jealousy dwells in
that household. When a wife fears
to look at the moon because she may
be accused of admiring the man in 1t,
the husband needs to be gently re-
minded that he is taking very rapid
shortcut to killing the love he seems
to hold so sacred. Love is fed by con-
fidence, trust, faith and serene restful
reliance. Morbid Jealousy is poison
of doubt, suspicion and injustice that
dulls the love it does not deaden.
Scientists tell us that every known
poison Is, In small doses, stfmulanr;
in larger doses 1t Is narcotic in still
larger 1t kills. In a mild form jeal-
ousy is inseparable from real love. 1t
is the hearts guardianship of Its treas
ure. 1t is the hunger for the sacred
ness of sole possession; the righteous
demand to be first, absolute and su-
preme. 1t is the instructive protest at
even the thought of another sharing
in those little tendernesses, graceful
attentions, and words, looks and ex-
pressions of love that should be con-
centrated on one, not syndieated
among many.
This instructive jealousy, though
reused in an instant, falls gently to
sleep again with smile of peace at
the recognition of false alarm.
Jealousy, in any instance. must be-
long to one of two classes. 1t is either
justified by the facts or it is not; 1t
is a right charge or an unjust one.
If justified, the one who causes 1T may
do so, in one or two instances, through
thoughtlessness or because of less
finely balanced appreciation of the de-
niands and duties of love, for some ma
lures are more wounded by look than
others by blow. Here few words
of gentle protest may bring new
course of action that is absolutely
jealousy-proof. If the offending acts
become continuous performance, then
the offender is unworthy of either the
love or the jealousy. But If the con-
slant jealousy be undeserved, the one
thus continuously storming In jealous
tempest is not worthy of the love and
loyalty thus traduced and put to scorn.
Nothing weakens loyalty and con-
stancy so quickly as morbid jealousy !;
nothing inspires, feeds, strengthens and
almost guarantees loyalty and con-
stancy like loving confidence, real COM
radeship and restful trust.
Jealousy, even when justified, should
not be permitted to run away with dis
cretion. The emotional pain 1t may be
natural to feel 1t may not be wise to
express. There Is tendency to an
emotional explosion that may wreck
happiness. 1t is moment when one
railroad crossing: "Stop, look and
listen" The first suspicion In mar
ried life may be more hazardous than
the first real quarrel. 1t may develop
an exaggerated estimate of the i'm
portance of what may have been mere
ly foolishly indiscreet word or ac-
ton.
The offender, conscious of innocence
of real wrong even in thought may
become angered and indignant at con-
demnation many sizes too large for the
offense; apology for the minor thought
lessness may be withheld or If spoken,
ignored in the presence of the injustice
of a weightier charge. The burden Of
injustice becomes shifted to the one
originally innocent. If the inadvertence
of moment, now looming large, be
but an error of action, not of mind
or of heart, 1t should instantly be for
given and forgotten because explained
and understood.
If there be real reason for jealousy
in trifle, wise action may confine it
to the trifie. Jealousy through its own
indiscreet expression may plant what
it fears. Let the wounded one seek
to find the cause that led to the action
inspiring the jealousy. The wife,
through pique at being neglected, may
receive innocently and unwfsely the
kind attention of another. The hus-
band, brought to realization of the
drifting possibilities of his negligence,
may by special marks of affection, re-
turning to the old courtship methods,
restore the old certainty of faith and
allness. If wise, he will let the con-
eciousness of his initial wrong keep
him from revealing too plainly his pain.
Angry protests and condemnation never
cure; they merely put premium on
secrecy and deception. 1t does not re-
move the disease, 1t merely drives 1t
into the system.
In every instance of jealousy the
innocent one should meet 1t at the
beginning, at its earliest manifesta-
ton. This means recognition and
wise determination to remove the
cause. but does not justify blame or in
dignant streams of condemnation flow
ing hot and Iaya-like. from an emo
tional Vesuvius.