CURE FOR LOSS OF TEMPER.

Dunstan Times, Issue 645, 28 August 1874, Page 3

CURE FOR LOSS OF TEMPER.

When M. de Persigny was French Minister of the Interior, he received a visit one day from a friend, who, on sending up his name, was shown into the great man’s sanctum. A warm discussion arose between them. Suddenly an usher entered, and handed the great man a note. On opening it, he at once changed his tone of voice, and assumed a quiet and urbane manner. Puzz’ed as to the contents of the note, and by the marked effect it had suddenly produced on the Minister, his friend east a furtive glance at it, when, to his astonishment, he perceived that it was simply a plain sheet of paper, without a scratch on it. More puzzled than ever, the gentleman, after a few minutes, took his lea e, and proceeded to interrogate the usher, to whom he was well known, for he himself had been Minister of the Interior. “ You have,” said he, “just handed to the Minister a note, folded up, which had a most extraordinary effect upon him. Now it was a plain sheet of paper, with nothing written upon it, What did it mean ?” “ Sir,” replied the usher, “ here is the explanation, which I must beg you to keep secret, for I do not wish to compromise myself. My master is very warm, and very liable to lose his temper. As he himself is aware of his weakness, he has ordered me, each time that his voice is raised sufficiently to be audible in the ante-room to place a sheet of paper in an envelope, and take it to him. That reminds him that his temper is getting the bettor of him, and he at once calms himself. Just now I heard his voice rising, and immediately carried out my instructions.”