Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-11-30


in I'll" world. too much idle iniruSiv,
( censorship Of the acts of others. II j.
uncomfortable to hear constantly that
/ you ought to do this" or "yuu should
certainly do that" II is 50 easy TO
solve the conundrumS Of another's
life.
The reason that advice is usually OF
! little value is that it is not based on
II perfect knowledge Of the infinity Of
detail that makes up Il condition. Per
feet advice should fit the situation as
a glove fits the hand; most advice
d""S not get much nearer than Il box
inE glove in the matter Of fitting
That the family Interference may
arse from genuine interest does not
"NTu>e il nor even explain it; where
love l. greatest il SHOULD be most ten
der and most considerable. There are
times when some tiny flame of miSun-
derStanding arises between husband
and wife that Il breath of kindly in
depreciation might blow into nothing
ness, but, talked over by the family
and canvaSsed and debated and in
tenSified, grows into a cOnlla grafton.
Under the gossip. often unthinking
of its evil influence. tiny mOlehill of
difficulty may become an almost impas-
sable Rocky Mountain range. Oil is
good thing To pour on troubled wa
tiers but ii is poor To put out Il fire
difficulty that originally concerned
only duet now has been made to af
feet the whole family choir. 1t is cas-
Ter for two people To reach loving har-
mony than To distribute it among q
dozen.
Sometimes the Interference of fam
llleS becomes even more active and
aggressive than this, and because OF
fancied grievance or genuine OppO-
SitiOn ii actually comes between hus-
band and wife and by harsh criticism
or condemnation seeks to incite strife
and discOrd between them. Here in
slant loyalty of the one to the other
should assert itself and refuse TO listen
To the voice. In an instructive spirit
of protection there should be q calm,
dignified protest against the recital
of what if uncSscntial should never
be spoken, and if of serious import
should be heard only in the presence
of the one thus charged with what
he or she should have the opportunity
of denying or disproving instantly, be-
fore the weeds of suspicion have time
10 root themselves in the heart of
the other.
In many homes, there is some one
in the family. on either side. whose
visits bring trail of sadness, sorrow,
protest, bitter opposition, an unneces-
Sary and understandable intrusion of
diScOrdant element tending to worry
irritate and perhaps even To bring into
inhIrmOny husband and wife. In this
delicate situation il often seems n prob
lem how best to act. The health and
happiness of the home must be cOnsid-
cred as of first and greatest impOr-
lance. If it be but Il trivial incOnven-
fence or Jar to the domestic serenity,
the wisdom of tolerance for a time
should be manifested.
If il he of more serious menace. i'm
possible to master by patient bearing,
the privilege Of hospitality should not
be strained beyond the bearing point.
There is moment when sacrifice
ceases to be a virtue and degenerates
into cOwardice. vice. There may be an
injustice to oneself and to one near
and dear that this unwelcome guest
hood outrages. 1t is not true hospital
ity to mask the hearts continued pro-
sarily to an atmosphere that saps ones
mental and moral vitality. that dulls
energy. deadcns ones finer sensibility,
and kills the joy of life, leaving one
worried, weak. worn and weary, unable
To meet as one should the questions of
everyday living.
If we constantly suffer injustice that
we can remove. we are slaves to the
individuality of another and towards
10 our own. The ranking irritation
of the unjust bearing. if continued, will
permeate our whole nature, like an
emotional poison. We should therefore
act calmly, wisely. with kindness and F.
dignity. and frankly recognize condi- |
tionS and with perfect fairness take |
the gentleSt action that will remedy |
them. Better n short. decisive battle /.
fought to finish than constant Sc
ries of petty squabbles and skirmishes. |
We cannot be just to others If we are |.
unjust To ourselves. If one lives ever
under the scepter of the decision Of |
others, IL is not free life-it is slavery. |
One cannot keep emotion constantly |
corked up; some time that cork will |
come Out-perhaps inopportunely. |
True love, true cOmpanionShip, true
living. can reign in the home only as |
there is in the home an atmosphere of |
liberty. of individual freedom in its |
highest sense.
If there be Interference from out |
side forces, whether they be from the |
family or others, that tends to blight |
the joy. rest, peace and calm of the |
home. that threatens to bring In even
the thin edge of the wedge of discOrd |
between. husband and wife-that inter.
ference should be silenced forever.
The home should be Il sanctuary Of
refuge, not Il battle ground of discord
it should be Il place where the angel
r