DON’T SCOLD.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 24, 11 June 1892, Page 604

DON’T SCOLD.

Not long ago a man was seen to take a big dose of quinine as unconcernedly as he would lave swallowed as much sugar.

‘ Mercy !’ exclaimed his friend, ‘ how could you do that ? ‘ Very easily ; I have become accustomed to it. It happened that I began taking it about the time that I discovered that I had married a scold. One dose was as bitter as the other ; row I can swallow either without giving it a thought.’

Not a very gallant speech, but wonderfully suggestive. The most deluded mortal in the world is the woman who fancies that much is gained by scolding or whining or complaining. She may seem to gain her ends for awhile (for at first one will do most anything to avoid swallowing a bitter dose) but if she would stop to consider, she would soon discover that every day she has greater cause for scolding or whining or complaining, whichever method she adopts, and that, as the months roll by, an ever increasing amount is required to accomplish the same result. The scolding woman never has things her own way without a vast expenditure of nervous strength—much more than the object to be gained is worth. Why cannot she realise that, and adopt some pleasanter method 1 There is, in this city, a merry little woman who never is obliged to ask twice when she wants anything. She isn’t one of the meek women who never dare to have an original opinion, or toendorseone unless her husband has first endorsed it. She says what she thinks, but even if it is a criticism it is given with such good nature that no one can take offence. Very often things do not go to suit her but she has the good sense to realise that scolding or complaining or whining will not help matters. If she is too angry to laugh, she keeps still until she can control herself. If very angry she shuts herself up in her room alone for a few moments. She says that an angry woman seems to her to be so repulsive an object, that she cannot bear to have those whom she loves best see her in any such character. She never seems to command, and her husband imagines that he always has his own way. She never disputes the point, yet they who know her best know that there are few questions that are not settled to her entire satisfaction.

She will appear young when the scolding women of her age are considered old, and she will always have an influence for good where they have no influence at all.