Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-07-05

Don't be q Idlker.--One half of the mis-
chief in the world is done by talking. And
one half fall the difficulty we get into as
we go along through life, is the result of
our saying what we night just as we'll not
have said. There is much wisdom in the
old maxim "keep your mouth shut and
your ears open"-there is, rely upon it.
/ do not know any body, in any situation
or profession in life, to whom the advice is
not applicable. 1t is sometimes said that
lawyers live by talking-that talking is their
trade, and SO on; but the fact is, the law.
yers are as apt to talk too much as any
body, and to suffer as much by it; to spin
out long argument, they necessarily fall
into the habit of dealing in fancy more than
in facts-saying things about parties and
witnesses that do much harm and no good,
and their reputation for candor will gener-
ally diminish in the same proportion as that
for loquacity increases. To hear some
men at the bar, you would suppose that if
they were held up by the feet, the words
would run out of their mouths by the mere
force Of gravity, for week at time, with
out disturbing their brains at all.
A preacher may talk too much. One of
the best sermons ever delivered in the world
was the sermon on the Mount. You may
read it, as it is reported, in fifteen minutes.
And though its style and power are unap-
proachable, its brevity might well be often
initiated.
Our Legislators talk too much. About
nine-tenths of all the speech making in con.
gress, and our legislatures, is the mere
sounding brass and tinkling cymbal of van
ity and egotism. Your real sensible men,
such as Ben Franklin and Roger Sherman
never got up unless they had something to
say, and always sat down as soon as they
had said it.
Our politicians talk too much. 1t is re.
ally refreshing, and as uncommon as it is
refreshing, to hear sensible man talk or
this topic for fifteen minutes. But if one
listens to the sweet rant of a day, the whole
science of politics seems TO have become
twisted into Chinese puzzle, that nobody
can find the beginning or end of.
When find q neighbor caught in the
meshes of SANDER suit, feel more sym.
pathy than indignation. He has probably
said, in a moment of excitement, what his
cooler judgement would have restrained
what he does not deliberately approve him
self, and probably is sorry for. But tho
thing is said, his pride is up, and he has il
the end to open his pocket for having open
ed his mouth. If he will listen to my short
lesson, he will not be caughtin such ascrapt
again. Don't talk too much.
When hear that a man and his wife dc
not live happily together-read of an appli
cation for divorce--am told Of an agree
ment for separation-or any thing of tina
kind, / am always suspicious that know
the cause, that perfectly understand thu
true secret of the difficulty. Mister is oc
casionaly petulant and huify, and madame
lectures instead of humoring him. Eacl
party stands upon the martial bill of rights
until it ends in legal bill of divorce. There
is no interfering in such matters. But
wish could whisper in the ear of every hus
band and every wife too--Dont talk to-
much.
Some young people have notion tina
they can talk each other into matrimony.-
| It is mistake; in such delicate matter a
this, the tongue had better be contente'
with playing subordinate part. The ey'
can tell better story--the language of &C
ton will make a better impression--th
love that grows up in the silent sunshin
which coBgenial hearts reflect upon cacl
other, is the healthiest and most enduring
The manner will always sink deeper thai
the language of affection. But this is
matter which people are so bent upon man
aging in their own way, thatI doubt wheth
er my advice will be worth the ink and III
paper.
1t may be singular conceit, but III te
you what like. | like to look at that qui
ct, contemplative, thoughtful old man, VIII
sits in his arm chair, his chin resting be
tween his thumb and fingers, reading Sen
cca through pair of spectacles. He like
old fashioned ways, old books, old friends
That old man makes no noise in the worlC
because he is regular built thinker. Yo
give him your opinion about men and things
and he hears it; tell him facts and he exam
ines and satisfies himself about them. AS
his opinion, and if you get it,it will come q
slow and as cautiously as if he believed
to be worth something. And so it is. II
goes upon the principle that man is M