Weekly Trinity journal., 1859-10-22
{ 5r 0rMjitp 3onrnaI.
WEAVEENILLE, CAL,
sns.lssy FFnruiu~. October -, 1850.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY TO READ.-Thc
" art Of me- hearing is a subject we do not re
member of ever hearing treated before. The
following, from Reynolds .MscaHay, contains
useful instruction for everybody dy-od and young
and should be read and studied:
The arr of not hearing should be taught in
every we'll regulated family. 1t is full as impor
tant to domestic happiness rs a cultivated ear
for which so much money and time are expended
There are SO many things which it is painful tt
hear, many which we ought not TO hear; very
many which, if heard, will disturb the temper
corrupt simplicity and modcSty, dcttaet from
coneument aud happiness, that every one must
be educated to take in or shut out sounds, accor
ding to their pleasure.
If a man falls into violent passion, and calls
me all manner o! names, the first word shuts my
ear, and hear no more. If, in my quiet voyage
of life. find myself caught ia one Of the domes
tic whrlwinds of scoldng, shat my ears as a
sailor would lurl his sails, and making all right,
scud before the gale. If hot and restless man
begins to iullamc my feelings, consider what
mischief these fiery sparks may do in the ma%a-
zine below where hly temper IS kept, and instantly
close the door.
Does a gadding, mischief making fellow begin
TO inform me what people are saying about me,
down drops the portcullis Of my ear, and be can
not get in any further. Does the collector Of a
neighborhood's scandal ask my ear as ware
house, it iustinctvcy shuts up some people
seem anxious 10 hear everything that will vcN
and annoy them. If il is hintcd that any one has
spoken evil of them, they set about searching the
matter, aud finding out. II all the petty things
said Of one hy needless or i'll naturcd idlcrs were
to be brought home to him, he would become a
mere walking pin cushion. stuck full OF sharp re-
marks ! should as soon think Of thanhuG man
for ompty tying upon my bed IA bu.hcl of nrtlcs or
setting loose a swarm of ants in my chamber, or
raising pungcnt dust in my house generally, as
to bring in upon me all the tattle OF careless and
spitcul people,
If you would be happy when among good men,
open your car, when among bad, shut them
And as the throat has a muscular arrangement by
which it takes care Of the air passages OF its oWn
accord, SO the ears should be trained to an autom
attic dulness Of hearing. 1t is not worth while
to hear what your servants say when they ar(
angry what your children say after they have
slammed the door; what your nrghbors 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 unpracticcd
in society. | have noticed that well bred wo-
man never hears an impertincnt or Il vulgar re-
mark. Kind Of discreet ii aiue-s saves one
from many Insults, from much blame, from not Il
little apparent conIiylncc in dishOuorable con-
There are doors inside my cars-a righthanded
door leading to my heart, and II leithauded door,
with broad and steep passage out into the open
air. The last door receives all ugliness profanity
yulgarity, mischief making, which suddenly find
themselves outside Of me. Judicious teachers
and lnduIgcnt parents save young urcbWS a
world Of trouble by convenient deafness. Bank
crS and ncylendcrs often are extremely hard
Of bearing, when unsafe borrowers are importq-
nate. never hear man who runs after ne IN
the street, baWluG my name at the top Of his
voice nor persons who talk evil oi those who
are absent; ; nor those who give me uaa,ked ad
vice about my own ailnirs nor those who talk
largely alGut things Of which they are ignorant.
II there are sounds Of kindness Of mirth OF
love, open fly my cars But temper, or htrsh-
ness, or hatred, or yulgaritN or tattory, shut
ih"m If you keep your garden gate shut your
flowers and fruit viii be safe II you keep your
door closed no thief will ran Off with your silver;
and if you keep your ears shut, yonr heart viii
lose neither its bower, nor its treasures.