LXXVIII.TESTING CHARACTER.
NOTHING so completely unmasks all the peculiarities of each individual, showing bright and noble traits most clearly, and casting deeper shadows on all that is weak, disagreeable, and unlovely, as being shut up in a steamer or in cars for days together, acquiring an intimacy in one week far more familiar than would have been formed in a year of ordinary intercourse. Nowhere are selfishness, irritability, and vanity so quickly detected; nowhere are such opportunities to manifest patience, self-abnegation, and all sweet and gentle qualities, in the most forcible and attractive manner, as in this phase of social life. You may call daily, or spend weeks with people in their own homes, and never imagine that fierce ambition, weak and silly vanity, petty jealousy, or a harsh and bitter temper are smoldering where all appears so cheerful and quiet, ready to be fanned into flames by the first annoyance beyond their power to repel. While no shadows fall or clouds obscure their sky, how pleasantly the moments pass by! Smiles and gentleness meet you at every step. To secure your comfort and pleasure is their delight; to dispense the hospitality of their homes gracefully and with a free hand does them honor; to neglect to do so would detract from the dignity of their social position, and be disgraceful. Every attention and courtesy paid to a guest reflects honor on the host, and few are so perfect that these considerations do not have some weight. This may be assumed without at all detracting from higher motives.
But become companions on a journey with those who, ashost and hostess, have been so attractive, and the most astonishing changes, for which you are entirely unprepared, utterly foreign to your estimate of their character, may meet you in every word and act. Take care, however, while watching themotein your neighbor’s eye, that he does not discover thebeamin your own. In the infelicities of traveling, remember you are liable to the same criticism, and watch and pray lest your own conscience compels you to acknowledge the justice of the censure.
On the other hand, you will often see persons so quiet and gentle at home, that while you respect, you never think of them as presenting any very striking characteristics. Sensible and unobtrusive, the goodness, unseen, carries comfort to all around, while the recipients seldom recognize the cause of the good influence which surrounds them, until some startling commotion proclaims their silent ministration. The freedom born from a common annoyance, discomfort, or danger, such as is often experienced in traveling, sometimes reveals heroes and heroines where we least expected to find them.
One may read some strange chapters in character if he quietly watch a crowd rushing on board a car or steamer, eager to secure the best position, where most can be seen with the greatest comfort. The rudeness and selfishness of each movement and act would be unpardonable in their own homes. If you are careful to be on board early, before the “rush” begins, it is certainly permissible to secure the best seat you can, but with the reservation that old age, feebleness, and infancy have a claim on all, which, if need be, should lead you willingly to relinquish the position, however desirable, if by so doing you can add to the comfort of any who come to you with these vouchers for their right to your assistance and sympathy. Unfortunately, we often see this gentle consideration for age and feebleness disregarded;but when it shines forth how beautiful it is! How it covers little faults and foibles, which, but for such unexpected manifestations, would have much power to vex and distress!
An elderly lady in feeble health took her seat in the cars, homeward bound after a long absence. Being a cold, rainy day, it was especially desirable to avoid all draughts from open windows. A party of young people in high spirits seated themselves in front, and at once opened the window. The wind, sleet, and rain rushed in, making all around uncomfortable. Several remonstrated, but with no satisfactory results. Even the indulgent father gently insinuated that they might themselves suffer from such exposure, but not a word was spoken of the risk to others. Every other seat being occupied, the invalid could make no change; and feeling that all the health gained by her absence from home might be lost through this severe exposure, with much reluctance she mildly requested that the window nearest her might be closed. The favor was rudely refused.
These young people were evidently persons of wealth, on their way to travel some time in Europe. From such examples, what impressions must the people of the “old country” form of the characters and manners of the new? The lady, probably reflecting gravely on the habits of the young of the present day, sighed for the time when age was honored and the young taught to reverence gray hairs.
Time flew by, and again the invalid sought health far from home. The boat was crowded with the young and gay. No wonder she remembered the scene on the cars with sad forebodings, the sadder because on a voyage one is liable to more discomforts than when traveling by land, and probably was prepared to be perfectly isolated, asking for and expecting nothing. The passage was disagreeable in theextreme, and all more or less seasick. Of course, under such circumstances, it would not have been surprising if each was disposed to think only of his own discomfort. On the contrary, kindness, respect, and attention were the rule, with hardly one exception. Those but slightly sick were prompt in ministering to the comfort of the more seriously afflicted. Affectionate inquiries, gentle sympathy, and, when needed, most tender assistance, filled with bright spots a voyage which, but for this blessed spirit, would have been intolerable; making warm and genuine friends for life of those who but a few days before were perfect strangers.
These two experiences prove how unwise it would be to form one’s estimate of all, in any circumstances, by the freaks and folly of a few. How easy to excuse much heedlessness and frivolity, hoping for better things with coming years, if out from among many youthful follies such good traits are made apparent!
If this law of unselfish kindness were thoroughly understood; if all, particularly the young, could realize the rich reward for every kind act, repaying them tenfold even in this life,—it would extract many thorns from weary feet, prevent much heart-burning, and give a glory to the life below only second to that blessed life above, where, when they enter, they may hope to hear, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”