The Cool Man

1895

The superiority of those men who keep their tempers in public bodies is so apparent that coolness should be one of the first virtues to be cultivated there. The discreet member will regard public life of this kind as a school for such a purpose.

There are trials for nervous or impulsive men often in these positions, but a part of their tactics must be to resist them if they are to have hope of success. Nothing can be clearer than that it is for their interest to do so. The debater who keeps cool is sure to have his opponent at a disadvantage.

The cool man is usually a master of sarcasm, which is an effective weapon in annoying an adversary, but a dangerous one also, because there is always the temptation to carry it too far. The men who have the widest influence are the good natured men, whose words leave no sting behind them. — Boston Herald.

The Combustible Clive

1910

As long ago as the middle of the eighteenth century, a famous Georgian actress, Mrs. Kitty Clive, felt the call of the nerves commonly associated with modern women. The whole green room, according to the author of "Garrick and his Circle," feared her tantrums.

Her character stood high, but her clean, wholesome nature and honest heart scarcely offset her temper. She was the one player Garrick feared, and he did everything he could to disperse her nerve storms, or, if they broke, assuage them. It is among the legends of the English stage that he said to her:

"I have heard of tartar and brimstone, but you are the cream of one and the flower of the other!" — Youth's Companion.

Rides to His Death in Locomotive Cab

1920

Engineer Stakes His Life in Effort to Save Train

MUSKOGEE, Oklahoma — Joe Lambert of Denison, Texas, engineer on Missouri, Kansas & Texas southbound passenger train No. 7, was killed when his train crashed into the rear of a southbound freight which had been forced to stop when it struck a company motor car in a heavy fog one and a quarter miles south of Muskogee.

Lambert stayed with his engine when he saw the caboose of the freight loom up out of the fog and was crushed between the tender and dock of the engine, as the cab crumpled up in the impact. His fireman jumped and was uninjured.

No one else was injured, but passengers on the passenger train, a thru fast train from Kansas City to Dallas, were severely jolted.


1915

Self-Control

One valuable way of practicing self-control is in checking grumbling, and in unnecessary display of vexation at petty inconveniences.

A workman has fulfilled his task imperfectly, some order is wrongly executed, some one keeps you waiting unreasonably; people are careless or forgetful, or do what they have in hand badly. Try not to be disturbed, be just, and show the persons to blame where they are wrong, even (if it be needful) make them do the thing over again properly; but refrain from diffuse or vehement expressions of displeasure.

A naturally quick, impetuous person will find that to cultivate a calm external habit is a great help towards gaining the inward even spirit he needs. — H. Sidney Lear.