New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-06-07
THE POWER OF SILENCE.

is either vain, imprudent or wrong TO
speak, is rare virtue-a distinguishing
trait of strong characters. When man
is settled in his own mind as to the course
to pursue in a certain case, and knows
that course is likely to meet strong oppo-
sition from those whose good will he
prizes, the wise method to pursue is to
make known his intention only by his act.
He thus spares himself all the annoyance
Of the previous opposition he would have
had to encounter, which is so much clear
gain. The after criticism is comparatively
a small matter; for if he really think the
thing did good thing, plenty Others will
be found to support him in it, and the
good sense Of those opposed will soon
teach them tie inutility of finding fault
with VIVA. can not be undone. Reticence
is also the dictate of wisdom in the per-
Torrance of any work which requires time
A declaration of intentions in such cases is
apt to elicit SO many heterogeneous
as 10 its state of progress from the we'll
intentioned, SO many incredulous sneers
from the envious and ill-disposed, as to
warn the most sanguine against the folly
of previously proclaiming ones intended
achievements. Talking prevents doing.
Silence is the great fellow-workman.'
Another occasion when silence is eminent
ly commendable, is when the sayings, do
ings and character Of the neighbor is the
topic of conversation. Now, gossip, and
even scandal, does not always proceed
from il!-wiu. 1t Is more often engaged
in simply from the lack Of ~othier mat.
ter, AID from the opportunity it Affords
for saying smart things. It is resource
against dullness, aud 90 the man .: little
cultivation and petty occupations, somee
times The only one. Even to the more
refined, 70 sit still and listen 10 discussions
on the character, circumstances, future
prospects and past lives of persons who
have really laid themselves open to public
criticism, is not always an easy task. let
60 join in such conversation is Ipverivg
to the character, however those who in
dulge IN Pie practice may tryto dignify It
under the specious plea q "stulyipg b.
man mature"
Silence, which IL Che cases abose o2ued
is simply the dictate q Sropriety, rises
sometimes TO the Isight q subl;raj.
q, namely, eSndes Che sting Of N.
merited eensHse Or dowusighs slaSdes.
Conscious Of SectNude, % oppose oily
digni6ed silence % unjust accusation IS
Che highest effort q seH-consroI os wb;ca
man Is capable. It wouldnos be becoming
in sIis place 20 enlarge apoA che n,ose
illustyioss example o! sublime silence Of
which we have knowledge. The instance
Sust yise spontaneously % Che recollect;o1
OF every gea0er. IT'S 2owe: ~as such as
% produce in che mind Of the judge pro-
found copv;ctioS Of fhe innocence os the
accused
80 come dow1. 60 loves Instances 9. :he
powes OF silence. it serves 20 marx con.
tempt Or indignation more poirtedly tLan
any words could do; and as an ezp.ess-o1
Of deep emotion its potency has been IT,
qr.ently exemplifed on tLe stage. IL the
play Of Virginius, for instance. as per.
formed Ly g great actor, when the Urn con.
tanning the ashes of his daughter IS isst
brought into his presence. lie kneels BESIDE
it, and bowling down his head, maintains
for some seconds q silence so oppressive
that it seens interul;nable; and wIen AZ
length q deep sigh tuss.s from his hreass,
every sympathetic heart in che aSdiesce
finds Selie9 by signing IN onisoa. Sanau-
schek also, in the play of deborah, u Ser
parting interview with der faithless lover,
produces similar tightening OF the hearto
strings by the storm-full silence which.
presedes the thunder of her curse.
The man who possesses this power %
mainEug silence il seasons Of anger, dam
ger, SANDER Or semptation, always Yields
an influence over his fellow man whiclothe
fluent dealer in strong epithets never can
command. His words are waited fol, his
gestures noted, his countenance studied.
He never condescends 20 apologize, but
lets new actions explain the OLD ones.
Are ISLANDERS circulated about him? 90
they even creep into the columns Of some
careless or unscrupulous sheet? lie does
nA hasten to set himself right before the
people by a card, but simply lets them die,
lives them down. In times like tie press
ent, $Len political bitterness gives birth
to so many unwarrantel statements, che
man who has got, by nature Or culture,
this selsress-aining power has great Need
TO acquire il, unless he desires 70 BE kept
bristling like forcupine, every quill
20 6 pen, point and constantly
engaged in the sain task of refuting SIAN
der. "Touchs and pierce, is scottish
motto.
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