Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-06-12
SLIPS OF THE TONGUE.

A we'll known author has said, that "if a
man were to call things by their right names
he would be knocked down every conversa-
tion he had" There is no question, thntthe
utterance of our thoughts would at first pro-
duce complete revolution in our whole So
cial system, but this would in time cure itself
by necessitating as severe discipline for our
thoughts as the propr;eties of civilized life
demand for our actions. We all know how
frequently we should like to yawn at friends
prosy story-to sleep at Church-to kiss a
pretty neighbor-to punch bully's head
to slam the door in dun's face, or to ease
his exit by kicking him down stairs, and a
thousand other little involuntary physical
ebulitions Thanks, however, to the super
vision of the world, we have learned to con-
troll our natural irritabilities, and behave
quite prettily outwardly in all the relations
Of life. Possibly it would be a blessing we're
our thoughts as palpable as our actious.-
Many a dark and wicked cogitation would be
crushed in the bud-our minds, thus exposed
to the censorship of those around US, would
be ashamed of thinking meauly, cruelty, VIM
dictively or sensually. Truth and purity
would preside over our brain! Let any of
us enter intoa company under the full belief
that Jones, Tompkins, Brown, Or Mrs. Smith,
then present, know what is passing in our
minds, and we should be as careful not to
think i'll of them as we are no,v not to speak
rudely of them.
On the other hand, this might lead to as
great an insincerity in our thoughts as there
is now in our aeords. Still, perhaps even hy-
pocrisy is better than open and shameless
vice, being, as Lord Bacon has it, the hon.
age paid by vice to virtue.
Despite the guard that custom has placed
on the tongue, now and Then few words es-
cape which show the real nature. We were
set thinking upon this theme by friend re-
lating that, calling upon millionaire who
had lately lost his brother, (also very veal
thy man, the survivor, who is executor and
heir to the greater part, said, "Dcar Roberts
affairs give me a vast deal of trouble. 1 some
times almost cish lie hudnt died w
If every man was as candid as the million
aire executor we should often hear most un-
pleasant things-as the Arctic navigator when
thaw came on, heard the opinion of his
crew and officers, expressed freely behind his
back, but which, unfortunately for them,
becoming frozen, repeated themselves as the
frozen conversation thawed. We can con.
ceive the captains astonishment on hearing
the boatswain telling the carpeuterthat "theil
commander was noodle" and the carpen,
ter's saying "that he was worse than fool
Even the capital song that the captain sang
six months before, and which was then be-
coming once more vocal, must have proved
but small recompense.
Lord Byron told Trelawney that his sepa
ration from his wife proceeded from few
hasty words, uttered when he was unaware
of her presence During his financial trou
bles his wife had come into his study so qui
etly that Byron did not know it. Thinking
over his condition and how much his mar
riage had rendered his ruin more unpleasant
he cried, audibly enough for her to hear