Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-06-07
Speak Slow and Low.


ONE who now walks in white, used, in
her gentle way, which was beautiful ex-
emplifcation of the lesson she taught, to
advise her boy to avoid speaking either
quickly or in loud tones when there was
danger of getting into trouble from tenn
per. In youth, and in young manhood,
we have found mothers advice of great
practical value in preventing quarrels in
sports, or in the business relations of life.
"A soft answer turneth away wrath, but
grievous words stir up anger'
One of the most successful commanders
ever connected with the American Mer-
| chant Marine, one who had had wide
experience in many waters, rs well as
many years, often said: ''Carelessness is
the cause of all the shipwrecks and acct
dents on the ocean" That some one has
failed TO speak slow and low" would
probably be found to be the cause OF a
large majority of TIE quarrels in the
world. That difficulty which grew into a
lawsuit costing thousands of dollars,
would have been prevented if either of the
contending parties, especially the one
most aggrieved, had so in patience pos
sessed his or her soul rs to speak slowly
and in gentle tones. Another trouble
which resulted in bloodshed would have
left those involved resting under the
blessing promised to ''the peacemakers"
instead of the curse ON the murderer, If
some one had learned 10 speak slow and
low"
We could give many cases in point H.
Illustrative OF this subject, which are
among either our experiences or our OBJ
servations; some of them thrilling ones.
Among the latter is the following
A young German professor Of languages
and mathematics, who had been an officer
in the Prussian and also in the American
army, had been thrown out of employ
ment for political reasons. There was
nothing against his ability, character, or
taithfulness. BY acting as security for
another, he had lost his slender accumu-
lation of money. Chiefly because he or
his wife had not practced speaking
slow and low" in times when there was
danger of Misunderstanding, the troubles
above recited, together with meddlesome-
ness on the part of others, had resulted in
their separation. Their babe was in "A
public nursery, and neither father nor
mother had means TO care for it; and as
he sat beside us in our Office, he told us
he had been compelled to fast the last
two days. He further told us plainly
that he had decided TO get out of it all by
committing suicide! He said il very quiz
city, but there was u look in his eye that
showed he was thoroughly in earnest
| Nationalist principles, Of which his mind
was full, prevented the highest reasons
we could present from being effective,
| but after accepting our invitation TO din
| ner, he returned in better spirits. He
| then opened his heart in relation to his
early history. His father had been a
prominent Protestant clergyman in Ger
many, likewise four of his maternal
| uncles, one of the latter missionary TO
South America. He also read us u por-
ton of letter recently received from his
widowed mother, living in Pomerania,
near the shores Of the Raltic. The letter
showed him 10 be the son of Christian
lady of n high order Of mind and culture.
We induced him to write kind note 10
his wife, inviting an interview there the
next day She accepted the invitation,
but unwisely adding terms OF reproach for
| their troubles, which decided him not to
meet her We succeeded in overriding
| the decision, and that eventide had the
|
ness to them for a conference aisne, with
the earnest injunction--aside to him--tiiat
No matter what she SAID, he should
speak slow, and speak low"
We allowed the half hour promised
them to treble; and when we returned
they were seated close to each other.
| They were speaking in the language OF L.
belle France, her native tongue, and we
could not understand word they said ,
but the tones were such as those TO which
the angels love to listen and the looks on
| their faces such as spoke of the happiness
found only in the bowers Of the Prince OF
| Peace.
The following day we received a letter
from him, saying: II am saved. | am
reconciled to my wife. God bless you. p"
| He and she had learned 10 speak slow
| and low" Learned To use one OF the keys
| to the treasures of " Peace on earth, coed
will to men tito Nay Poueit, aR itLns-
| tr0ted Chrsstiaa Very
L