The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-06-06
INDISCRETION: OR THE ERRORS OF
HASTE.
aThe rash Of speech,
The thoughtless and the harsh" +"

The thoughtless and the harsh.'
There are few individuals who have not
suffered much at times, in consequence of haste
or precipitation. Even the wisest occasionally
forget themselves and act rashIy. II is impos-
sbe to be ever watchful, ever vigilant, ever
thoughtful, considerate and prudent. word
fitly spoken has magic and charm that at
once soolhes and concilates. But word un-
fity spoken, especially if harsh, sharp, or irrl-
tating, will sometimes inflict wound that can
not be wholly healed for years. The errors OF
haste are countless, and they are committed dali
ly and hourly. A III are more or less torgettui
in this respect. The impulsive are especially
SO. They act first and think afterwards and
not unfrequenty the afterthought is full Of Bit
terness, regret and splf-reproach. The difficult
ty, then, is TO make amendment or reparation.
Duty recommends a frank manly and straight
forward course-an explanation or an apology.
But false pride councils equvocation, preyari-
cation, or adherence to the error, and if this
advice be taken, as it too often is, the conse-
quences are always painful. It is, moreover,
such all easy thing to atone for an unintentlonal
misstep, false impression or hasty remark,
that the surprise is, that any neg lect or avoid
the discharge Of so solemn duty. How many
+
lies have been severed, how many hearts have
been lacerated through errors of haste and ia
discretion The thoughtless and the rpcklrSs
are constantly committing blunders of this de-
scription. They talk at random, without rellec-
ton, consideration or feeling, and are ever and
anon surprised, when they discover that they
have trenched on forbidden ground. Nay, II
often happens that they never discover their err
ror. The injury is received in silence, but 1t IS
not forgotten. At times, too, their explanations
only make the matter worse, because out ot
place. or in bad taste. And, again. they per
Sist in a misrepresentation or an insult, and
TINS they are either treated with contempt, as
vile ana base, or they are punished IN some sui
table manner. With the young and Inexperl-
enced, errors of haste are OF course natural, and
some allowance should be made. They pro-
ceed from want Of Judgment, ignorance of the
world, and impetuosity Of disposition. But e.
ven under such circumstances, the true policy
of the frank and the manly, is TO explain fully
and generously at the first opportunity. Ac-
counts of this kind should never be left unset
tied. Better arrange them at once, and IN the
tight spirit, than permit an accumulation OF IN
terest, and thus an increase Of the indebtedness.
There are sotne persons, we are aware, who
fancy that there is dishonor or ndignity IN ma
king an apology, even when they have unwlt-
tinglY done wrong. This, as il strikes MS, is Il
sad mistake, not only of judgment, but OF NOR
ais. All are mortalS, aud are all, therefore, Ii
able TO commit indiScretons, and indulge in IN
irmities. But the error should be corrected as
speedily as possible, and thus the sin purged
from the conscience. He IS indeed blind, per-
verse and bgotted, who does wrong, and then
persists In it because he fancies that there would
be humiliation in acknowledging and taking
back the offence. We fully agree with an an
cient philosopher, who conended that, after
the man who never had sinned, he should bs
held in the highest esteem who was the readest
to apoiogise, on being satisfied that he had COM
United an offence. If this doctrine were gene
rally received and acted upon, mankind would
get along much more smoothly, quietly and
happily. The quick in temper, the fiery of
blood, and the impatient Of spirit, are constant
ly committing errors Of haste. Most of these,
however. are quite as ready to make an atone
nent, and it is well that it is 50. They are
known, their infirrnity is recognized, aud thus
all allowance is made for their inconsiderate
conduct and expressions. They are pFecpitate
by nature, and to some extent they cannot help
themselves. But if they are the first TO say a
harsh thing they are also the first 20 recall it I;
and thus the error is speedily repaired. And
this IS the true policy It should be universal
ly inculcated and pTacticed. Let us do unto
others as we would that they should do unto Us.
And surely, lei US not perprtrate the folly, nay,
the outrage of committing wrong, and then
add insult 10 injury by adheriug TO the act of IN
justice from obstinacy or false pride. There is,
we repeat, scarcely an individuai alive who
has not committed errors Of haste. Nay, there
are few who cannot recall many g'ith morti6-
cation and regret. We either perPetrate them,
or we see them perpetrated every day. lndis-
cretion TO some extent, is an almost universal
failing. And while this is conceded, while We
feel that we cannot have constant watch and
guard over our minds, our passions and our
tongues, let US at least be ready TO make amend
fnent, generous and ample, at the very first OPP
portunity. There is nothing mean or unmauly
in such a course, but on the contrary, il is right,
high-minded, becoming, and honorable. The
sensible man of business reviews his pecuniary
accounts daily. Why then should we not, in
the same spirit of prudence and integrity, and
at the first seasonable moment, consider and adj
just all violations of taste, courtesy, morals and
propriety?
A Magnificent Niger.
Il Al. fzli a