Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1860-01-13
The Art of Not Hearing,

Should be taught in every well-regulated
family. 1t is full as important, to domes
tic happiness, as cultivated ear, Gr which
so much money aud time are expended
There are SO many things which it is pain.
ful to bear-many which we ought not to
herr-very many, which, if heard, will
disturb the temper, corrupt simplicity and
mcdesty, detract from contentment and
happiness, that every one should be educa
ted to take in or shut out sounds, accord
ing to their pleasure.
If a man falls into q violent passion,
and calls me all manner of names, the frs,
word shuts my ears, and | hear no more
If, in my quie. voyage life, l fiud myself
caught in one Of those domestic vhirlwinds
of seolding, l shut my ears, as a sailor
would his sails, and, making all tight, scud
before the gale. If hot and restless man
begins to infame my feelings, l consider
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
begin to inform me what people are saying
about me, down drops the portcullis of my
ear, aud he can not get in any further.
Does the collector of a neighborhood' 8
scandal ask my ear as warehouse, it in
stinctively shuts up. Some people seem
anxious to hear everything that will vex
and annoy them. If it is hinted that any
one has spoken evil Of them, they set
about searching the matter, and finding it
out. If all the petty things said of one
by needless or i'll natured idlers we're to be
brought home to him, be would become q
mere walking pin-cusaiou, stuck full of
sharp remarks. l should as soon thank
mat for emptying upon my bed bushel
Of nettles, or setting loose swarm Of ants
in my chamber, or raising pungent dust
ia my house generally, as to bring in upon
me all the tattle Of careless or stupid peo.
pie. Ifyou would be happy, when among
good men, open your ears; when among
bad, shut them. And as the throat has q
muscular arrangement by which it takes
care Of the air passages of its own accord,
SO the car should be trained to an automa.
tic dullness Of hearing. 1t is not worth
while to hear what your servants say, when
they are angry; what your children say,
when they have slammed the door; what
your ncighbor's say, about your children;
what your rivals say, about your business,
your dress, or your affairs.
There are two doors inside my ears-a
right hand door leading to the heart, and
q left hand door with broad and steep
passage into the air. This last door re-
ceives all ugliness, vulgarity, and mischief.
making, which suddenly find themselves
outside of me. Judicious teachers and in.
iulgent parents save their young urchins
\ world Of trouble by convenient deaf.
ness. Bankers and money lenders often
are extremely hard of hearing, when nm.
safe borrowers are importuuate. l never
hear man who runs after me in the street,
bawliog; nor those who give me unssked
advice about my own affairs nor those
who talk largely about things of which they
are ignorant. A wellbred person never
hears an impertinent or vulgar remark. A /
kind OF discreet deafness saves from many |
insults, from much blame, and from rot . |
little apparent conpivanee in dishonorable
If there are sounds of kindness, or limo.
'eut mirtb, open fly my ears' But ill
emper, or barshness, or hatred, or volgar-
iy, or fattery, shut them. If you keep
'our garden gate shut, your flowers and
ruit will be safe; if you keep your doors
losed, no thief will run of with your sil.
er; and il you keep your ears shut, your
leart will lose neither flower nor treasure.