Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-09-03
NO. 200.
MISCELLANEOUS READING.
TIE ART OF NOT HEARING.

The art of not hearing should he taught
IN every well-regulatcd family. 1t Is full
as important To domestic happiness as a cul-
tiSated ear, Tor which 80 much money and
time are expended. There are So many
things IT Is painful To hear, many which we
ought not u hear; very many which il heard.
Will disturb the temper, corrupt simplicity
and modesty, detract from contentment and
happiness, that every one must be educated
to take in or shut out sounds, according to
their pleasure.
1t a man falls into violent passion. and
calls me all manner of names the first word
shuts my ear. and hear no more. If, in
my quiet voyage of life, | find myself
caught in one of the domestic whir-
winds of scolding, | shutmy ears rs sailor
would furl his sails, and making ali tight,
scud before the gale. IL hot and restless
man begins to infame my feelings, con
slider what mischief these fiery sparks may
do in the magazine below, where my temper
is kept, and instantly close the door.
Does gadding mischief making fellow be
gin to inform me what people are saying
about me, down drops the portculls otmy ear,
and he can not get in any further. Does the
collector Of neig ghborhuod's scandal ask my
ear as Il warehouse it instlnctlyely shuts up.
Some people seem anxious to hear every
thing that will vex and anoy them. If it is
limited that any one has spoken evil Of them.
they set about searching the matter, and
finding out. If all the petty things said OF
one by needless or i'll natured idlers We're to
be brought home to him, he would become u
mere walking pincushi0n stuck full Of sharp
remarks. should as soon think ofthanking
a man for emptying upon my bed bushel
of nettes. or setting loose u swarm Of ants III
my chamber, or raising apungent dust in my
house generally, as TO bring i'll upon me all
the tattle ofcareess or spitetulpeUple.
If you would be happy, when among good
men, open your ears: when among bad, shut
them. Aud rs the throat has muscular ar
rangement by which it takes care Of the air
passages Ut its own accord so the ears should
be trained to HI automic dullness of hearing.
1t is not worth while to hear what your ser
wants say when they are angry; what your
children say after they have slammed the
door; what your neighbors say about your
children; what your rivals say about your
business your dress, or your affairs.
This art of not hearing, though untaught
in the schools, Is by no means unknown, or
unpracticed in society. have noticed that
a well-bred woman never hears an impertinent
or vulgar remark. A kind of discreet
deafness saves one from many insults, from
much blame from not Il little apparent CON
nlyance in dishonOrable conversation.
IT, re are doors inside my ears, right
handed door leading to my heart. and left
hand door, with u broad and steep passage,
ont into the open air. The last door receives
all uginess. profanity, vuIgarity, mischief
making, which suddenly find themselves out
side OF me. Judicious teachers and indul-
gent parents, save young urchins world Of
trouble by convenient deafness. Bankers
and money lenders often are extremely hard
Of hearing, when unsafe borrowers are I'M
Fortunate. | never hear man who rum
after me in the street, bawling my name at
the top of his voice; nor persons that talk
evil Ct those who are absent; nor those who
give me unasked advice about my own affairs;
nor those who talk largely about things Of
which they ignorant.
If there are sounds Of kindness, Of mlrth,
of love, open fly my ears! But temper, or
harshness, or hatred, or vulgarty, Or ilattery,
shut them. Ifyou keep your garden gate
shut. your flowers and fruit will be safe. If
you keep your door closed, no thief will run
off with your silver; and if you keep your
eurs shut, your heart will lose neither it's
flowers nor its treasures, s,--E. Reyn'olds' Ms
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