Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-11-23
Little Problems
@cWarried
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By
WILLIAM GEORGE JORDAN
THE SPECTRE OF CONSTANT
JEALOUSY.
(C.pynghtJ

JEALOUSY.
When man Is afraid TO remark ut
the breakfast table, even mildly and
casually. that. from what he has heard.
Cleopatra must have been beautiful
woman. II is fair to assume that the
spectre of constant jealousy dwells in
that household. When a wife fears
to look nj the moon because she may
be accused of ndniring the man in II.
the husband needs 10 be gently re-
minded that he is taking a very rapid
shortcut to killing the love he seems
To hold so sacred. Love is fed by CON
f1dence, trust, faith and serene restful
reliance. Morbid jealousy Is a poison
of doubt. suspicion and injustice that
dulls the love II does not deaden.
Scientists tell us that every known
poison is. in shall doses. q stimulant :;
in larger doses it is 4 narcotic; in still
larger II kills. In mild form jeal
Ousy Is inscparable from real love. II
Is the hearts guardianship of its treas
ure. Ii is the hunger for the sacred
ness of sole possession the righteous
demand to he first, absolute and SUI
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 syndicated
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. Ii is either
justified by the facts or II is not; ii
Is right charge or an unjust one.
II justified, the one who causes ii may
do so, in one or two instances, through
thoughtlessncss or because Of less
finely balanced appreciation of the de-
mandS and duties of love- for some ma
lures are more wounded by look than
others by Il blow. Here u few words
course of action that is absolutely
jcalousy-proof. If the offending acts
become Il 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 rs morbid jealousy;
nothing inspires. feeds, strengthens and
almost guarantees loyalty and con-
stancy like loving confidence, real COM
radeshlp and restful trust.
Jealousy, even when justified. should
not he permitted to run away with dis
erection. The emotional pain it may be
natural 10 feel II may not be wise to
express. There is tendency to an
emotional explosion that may wreck
happiness. 1t is a moment when one
should heed the advice Of the sign at n
railroad crossing: "Stop, look and
listen" The first suspicion I'm mar
ried life may he more hazardous than
the first real quarrel. 1t may develop
an exaggerated estimate of the im-
portance 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 angercd and indignant at con-
dcmnaiiOn many sizes too large for the
oirensc; apology for the minor thought
lesSncSs may be withheld or If spoken.
ignored in the presence of the injustice
of Il wrichticr charge. The burden Of
injustice becomes shifted to the one
originally innocent. If the inadvcrtencc
of moment, now looming large. be
but an error of action, not Of mind
or of heart, 1t should instantly he for
given and forgotten because explained
and understood.
If there be real reason for jealousy
In tritle. wise action may contine il
to the trine. Jealousy through it's own
indlScreet expression may plan; what
il fears. Let the wounded one seek
to find the cause that led 10 tie action
inspiring the jealousy. The wife.
through pique at being neglected. may
receive innocently and unwiScly the
kind attention of another. The hus-
band, brought to realization of the
drifting possibilities of Ibis negligence,
may by special marks of affection, re-
turning To the old cOurtShip methods,
restore the old certainty of faith and
aIness. If wise. he will let the con-
seriousness Of his initial wrong keep
him from revealing too plainly his pain.
Angry protests and condemnation never
cure; they merely put a premium on
secrecy and deception. 1t does not re-
move the disease. 1t merely drives 1t
into the system.
In every instance or jealousy the
innocent one should meet II 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.