Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-09-14
9ailg Nirginiaa.
The Art Of Not Hearing.

The art Of not hearing should be taught in eve
ry well regulated family. 1t 10 full as Important
to domestic happiness as cultivated ear. for
which so much money and time are expended
There are SO many things which Il is painful to
hear. many which We ought not TO hear; very ma
ny which, if heard will disturb the temper, cor
rupt simplicity and modesty, detract from oon-
tentment and happiness that every one must be
educated to take in or shut out sounds according
to their pleasure.
Ifa 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 ono of tho domestic
whrlwinds Of scolding. shut my ears as u sailor
would furl his sails, aud making all tight scud
before the gale. II hot and restless man begins
to inflamo NY feelings, consider what mischief
those fiery sparks mny do in the magazine below
where my temper is kept, and instantly close the
door.
Does gadding. misunderstanding fellow begin
to inform mo what people are saying about me.
down drops tho portcullis m my car, and he can
not get in any further. Does the collector OF u
neghborhoods scandal ask my ear us u ware
house. it instinctively shuts up, Some people
seem anxious to hear everything that will vex and
annoy them. Ifit is hintcd that any one hns spo-
ken evil Of them they SGT about searching the mat
ter and finding out. II NIL the petty things said
Of ono by needless or illnatured iders were to be
brought homo to him. he would become mere
walking pin-cushon. stuck full of sharp rcmarks-
| should as soon think Of thanking man for
cmptyng upon my bod a bushol of nettes. or lot
ting loose II swarm o ants in my chamber, or rails
ing u pungent dust in my house generally, as to
bring in upon: mo all tho tattle Of careless aud
spitcful people.
lfyou would be happy, when among good men.
open your ears; when among bnd, shut then.--
And M tho throat has IL muscular arrangement
hy which it takes Of the mir passages ofits
accord, SO the ears should be trained To nn auto
matte dullness of hearing. 1t is not worth while
to hear whnt your servants say when they arc nm
cry; what your children say after they have slam
med the door, what your neighbors say about your
children; what your rivals say about your business
your dress, "r your Affairs,
Il his art Of not hearing, though untaug'ht in the
schools, is by no means unknown. or unp racticed
in society have noticed that we'll rod wo-
man never hears an impertinent or vul CUR re-
mark. a kind Of discreet deafness saw es ono
fror many insults, from much blame, from not
little apparent eonniyance in dishono. able oon-
yersatinn.
There are doors inside my ears-a right handed
door leading to my heart, and u lefthni I'd door,
with n broad and steep passage out into tie open
air TIE last door receives all ugliness, protan'-
ty, vulgarity. misunderstanding which suddenly
find themselves outside OF me. Judicious tea CHI
ers and indulscnt parents save young urch ins IL
world ol trouble by a convenient deafness. Bai'
kcrs and money lenders often are extremely hard
| ofhcarirg. when unsafe borrowers importu-
nate. | never henr man who runs after me in
tho street. bawling my name at the top of his
voice; nor persons who talk evil of those who
are absent nor those who give mo unasked d.
vice about my own affairs; nor those who talk
80 largely about things Of which they are gno-
rant.
If there are sounds ofkndness, OF mirth, of love
open fly my ears But temper, or harshness, OF
hatred, or vulgarity. or flnttcry. shut them. II
you keep your garden cato shut, your flowers and
fruit will be safe. you keep your door closed,
no thieI will run off with your silver and if you
keep your ears shut, your heart will lose neither
its flowers nor its ,easures.-R Reynolds Miscella-
ny.