The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1860-08-16
Never Say Too Much

Saying too much has ever been fault
of frail man. and of lovely woman too
The evils resulting from this unconquera
bic propensity, are seen and felt from
childhood TO old age, from the mud hovel
to the throne. Life. reputation, peace and
fame, have often been sacrificed and
blasted bv saying too much The tongue
is an unruly member that no man can
perfectly tame, a wild colt that shudders
at the sight Of a bride. We would not
enioin silence, but caution our readers
never to sag too much.
1t is truth worthy of notice and imi-
tation. that Franklin. Washington, and
other truly great men, were remarkably
laconc in their public speeches. keeping
close to the question under debate. They
sought TO infcrm, not TO dazzle the au
dience. They were more anxious to dis
patch the business of their constituents,
than to outshine each other in the galaxy
Of eloquence.
The legislator, the advocate, or the
preacher, who, without circumlocution or
parade, comes to the subject matter at
once; who scizes upon the strong points
of argument; who says all that is proper
and nothing more; whose every sentence
is charged with the arrows of conviction,
calculated to reach the heart and convince
the mind: and who leaves off when he
has said just enough, will exercise an in
fluence, and be listened TO with an atten-
ton unknown to those whose whole aim is
to show their talents by flights of orato-
ry. plucking flowers from the regions of
fancy. instead of gathering the more
substantial fruits OF sound logic and COM
mon sense.
But it is not from public speakers alone
that mischief arises from saying too much.
In the walks of private life there are
thousands whose tongues are full of dead
ly poison, splitting their venom on the
fairest flowers that bloom. The tongue of
the liar, the slanderer and the backbiter
often set families, neighborhoods, and
even churches on fire: ''beng set on fire
of hell" The sly whispering tongue, the
mysterious tongue. the guessing tongue,
the inuendo tongue, the ambiguous tongue,
the jealous tongue, are all, all prone to
say too much Many a pretty, well form
ed mouth has been disfgured by a scold-
ing tongue. The malicious and revenge.
ful tongue is ever charged with the poi
son of asps. and delights in human mise
ry. The envious tongue calls to its aid
all the other strange tongues.
There are other tongues, innocent in
their designs. that run at random The
Il. r l.. 4 i
small, who talks more than he listens,
says too much The man who engrosses
all the conversation in company. in order
to show off his learning or that he is gift
eG in CAB. says too much.
Some persons, when they are entrusted
with secret, always get some half dozen
or more to aid them in keeping it, and
thus they say tao much. Others, when
they know fault of their neighbor,
instead of going to him for the purpose
of efiecting reformation, proclaim it
upon the house top, and thus violate
justice and charity by saying too much
Ia parties, in mixed company. and IN our
coDyivial or passionate moments, we are
all prone to say too mach.
Let us all try TO lessen this evil by
commencing at the fountain head; correct
the heart, and keep it purified with the
chlorine of charity and wisdom. Put the
bride upon the tongue, subject It to the
curb of caution. the bit of discretion and
reins of reason. Instead of applying
whip and spur to this high spirited little
animal. endeavor TO subdue its wild pro-
pensites by uniform course of mildness
and consistency, ever remembering NOT
TO SAY TOO MUCH.
The people are wild for Douglas in
Iou,siana Hon Mr. SouIo Mai Har