The Monticellonian., 1917-11-02
THE SPECTRE OF CONSTANT
 JEALOUSY.
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 When man is afraid to remark at the breakfast table, even mildly and casually, that. from what he has heard, Cleopatra must have been beautiful woman, il is fair to assume that the spectre of constant jealousy dwells In 1 that household. When wife fears l to look at the moon because she may be accused Of admlrlng the man in IL. 1 the husband needs to be gently re minded that he is taking q very rapid shortcut to killing the love he seems 1 to hold so sacred. Love is fed by con l fidence. trust. faith and serene restfuI reliance. Morbid jealousy is poison of doubt, suspicion and injustice that dulls the love 1t does not deaden.
 Scientists tell us that every known poison is. in small doses, stimulant; i; in larger doses it is narcotic; in still larger it kills. In a mild form jeal- ousy is inseparable from real love. It Is the hearts guardianship of its treas ure. II is The hunger for the sacred ness Of sole possession. the righteous demand to be first, absolute and SUI preme. It is the instinetive protest at even the thought of another sharing 1 in those little tendernesses. graceful attentions, and words. looks and ex- pfessions of love that should be con centrated on one, not syndicated among many.
 This instinctive jealousy. though reused in an instant, falls gently to sleep again with smile of peace at the recognition of a false alarm.
 Jealousy, in any instance. must be- long to one of two classes. IL is either justified by the facts or it is not; 1t is right charge or an unjust one If Justified, the one who causes it may do so, in one or two instances, through thoughtlessness or because of less finely balanced appreciation of the de- mands and duties of love, for some na- lures are more wounded by look than others by a blow. Here q few words of gentle protest may bring new course of action that is absolutely jcalousy-proof. If the offending acts become continuous performance, then the offender is unworthy of either the love or the jealousy. But if. the con stant jealousy be undeserved. the one thus continuously storming in jealous tempest is not worthy of the love and loyalty thus tradueed and put to seorn.
 Nothing wealens loyalty and con stancy so quickly as morbid jealousy l; 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 it may not be wise to express. There Is q tendency to an emotional explosion tl-at may wreck happiness. It is a moment when one should heed the advice of the sign at railroad crossing: "Stop, look and listen" The first suspicion in mar ried life may be more hazardous than the first real quarrel. It may develop an exaggerated estimate of the im- portanee of what may have been mere ly foolishly indiscreet word O. ac- ton.
 The offender, conscious of innocence of real wrong even in thought may become angefed 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 welghtier charge. The burden of injustice becomes shifted 10 the one originally innocent. If the inadvcrtencc of moment, now looming large, be but an error of action, not Of mind given and forgotten because explained and understood.
 If there be real reason for jealousy in triile. wise action may contine it to the trifie. Jealousy through it's own indiscreet expression may plaat 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 innoeently and unwisely 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 sciousness of his initial wrong keep him from revealing too plainly his pain. Angry protests and condemnation never cure; they merely put T premium on secrecy and deception. It does not re- move the disease, 1t merely drives it l into the system.
 in every instance or Jealousy the innocent one should meet 1t at the i beginning. it It's earliest manifesta- ton. This means recognition and a wise determination to remove the cause, but does not justify hlame or in i dlgnant streams or condemnation flow. ing hot and lnvu-lke from an emo. tional Nesuvius.
 There k false pride that says. "If he is growing interested in another let him ga. l will not compete for his. af. lection" or. If she feels that way let her lsavc her way" Love. happi, ness and rust are treasures too sacred for us To permit them 10 slip out c; our hves and leave us lone and dreary on the mere technicality of the petty Eride of la0ment. This philosophy of resignation may be proper when il Incomes inevitable. hut never before
 We would not let health. money, post
 ton. reputation or property thus drtft
 away without uslag every eyGr, to re fIi l i. why 1n..s salSa ntldn x.ar nnI inn.