THE GLOBE. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1881. THE ARROGANCE OF OFFICE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2175, 14 February 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1881. THE ARROGANCE OF OFFICE.

It is a peculiar fact, and one rather interesting to tho philosophical observer of life, that many well meaning and harmless persons in social circles become strangely metamorphosed or transmogrified by any accidental change of fortune through which they may bo elevated to official positions. The transformation, at once complete and edifying, is usually noticeable so soon as ever they emerge from a peaceful and becoming obscurity, tho prominent characteristics of tho newlyexalted being a calmly-superior mode of comporting themselves, relieved occasionally by a fierce assertiveness, and a general air of suppressed power, referable to, and wholly supported by, the awful dignity of their office. There is something so frog-like and ludicrous about the class of gentry referred to, that in a general way their peculiarities are regarded as snbjec t merely for passing amusement, but occasions arise in which they require to bo chocked, and reduced, if possible, to their proper level in society,

which, it may be superfluous to remark, is considerably lower down in the scale than they are disposed to acknowledge as their rightful place. We were led into making these remarks by observing certain examples of the class named, who confer upon this city the honor and privilege of their society, with special reference at the present moment to the Medical Officer to the Board of Health. Dr. Nodwill is a gentleman possessing a keen sense of the importance of his official position, as he unmistakably testified by his conduct on a recent visit to the Normal School, the which establishment ho attended for purposes of inspection as Health Officer of the district. On the occasion of that memorable visit, things did not go altogether smoothly with the doctor, who fancied that he discovered in Mr. Wallace, clerk under the Education Board, a sinister design to thwart him (Dr. Nedwill) in the discharge of his functions. Eventually, however, he came away satisfied that he had performed his duty, having gone over the premises and found subject matter for a report to the Board of Health. But he took occasion to vindicate the offended dignity of his office by writing a stinging letter, in which he charged Mr. Wallace with discourtesy and other crimes against good breeding and the responsibilities of public service. Mr. Wallace, in due course, wrote a letter to his Board, who had been favored with a perusal of Dr. Nedwill’s complaint, showing that the discourtesy was all on the side of the Medical Officer, whose manner was “ offensive ” from the first. Dr. Nedwill has not considered it necessary to say anything in reply to the seemingly fair and temperate explanation of Mr. Wallace, and we may be pardoned for believing, therefore, that the last-named gentleman was really the martyr, and not Dr, Nedwill. Indeed, this is one of the cases referred to as indicating the arrogance of office. Dr. Nodwill, being keenly alive to his own importance probably, under any circumstances, has, no doubt, magnified his consequence to society since his advent to a situation under the Local Board of Health. Ho is not, at any rate, likely to hide his light under a bushel, or permit the lustre of his presence to be in any other way eclipsed. It appears also that he suffers under the unpleasant suspicion that there is a sneaking disposition on the part of all men and sundry to thwart and obstruct him. Like Mr, Nupkins, the celebrated magisterial magnate of Ipswich, he has a truly wonderful capacity for discerning obstruction and other forms of villainy in the countenances of his fellow creatures. Such is the enlivening but peculiar effect of medical and official experience. No sooner did Dr. Nedwill meet Mr. Wallace at the Education Board offices than this painfully acute sensibility made itself apparent; he at once discerned a tendency to obstruction in that gentleman’s inoffensive countenance, and, like Mr. Nupkins, he at once swelled with a sense of offended majesty, and, as our American cousins remark, ho “ went for ” Mr. Wallace without loss of time. From Mr. Wallace’s letter in reply to Dr. Nedwill’s complaint, we find that the latter “ exhibited a spirit of pugnacity seldom found but in persons of his undoubted claims to consideration. It is perfectly obvious of course, to well-regulated minds, that such trifling matters as courtesy and politeness cannot be allowed to weigh in the preservation of a due respect for | official importance, and any lurking desire to exhibit independence on the part of anybody else must at once be stamped out. Dr. Nedwill apparently carried out this wholesome and instructive idea to the letter on his visit to the Normal School, and literally filled the air with his own magnificence. He did not say, 1 “I am Sir Oracle, and when I ’ope my . mouth let no dog bark,” but he did give ■ the clerical gentleman aforesaid to understand that ho possessed a kind of magic , influence most irresistible, and a power of making it generally “ hot ” for all who offended his greatness, which must on no account be trifled with. If it ' should appear that any reflection is cast upon the Health Officer in these remarks, we would state at once that we fully appreciate the importance of the ’ office occupied by that gentleman, and that, in our opinion, all good citizens should endeavour to assist him in carrying out the duties thereof. At the same time, permit us to say that we have not yet heard of any attempt on the part of any one to obstruct the present Health Officer. It may also not be out of place to point out that a man’s position is generally very much what ho makes it, especially in the case of an officer like Dr. Nedwill. It has been said on several occasions lately at the Board of Health and elsewhere on such questions being raised—that Dr. Nedwill’s position is one of a very trying and arduous character. To this wo say that those who entertain such an opinion are welcome to it, and that the afflicted public official is likewise perfectly welcome to all the sympathy they can bestow on him. But it would seem only fair to remember amid all this pity for Dr.Nedwill, that he gets very well paid for what he does—a good deal better paid than the Inspector of Nuisances—who. though not a doctor of medicine, may be allowed to possess the sensibilities of a man, and who has a much more unpleasant task to fulfil than the medical officer. And, further, it may bo urged that a medical officer is not likely to meet with obstruction or incivility from anyone, whilst he remembers that he is only a man after all, and that a man’s official position no more entitles him to bo rude and discourteous than the addition of any number of high sounding letters to his name can possibly make a true gentleman of the man who is none. It would be well if all officials would remember, first, that they are simply men among men, and, secondly, that politeness costs nothing, whilst it oftentimes saves much trouble.