Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-05-01
Re[ieiclts Department.
DO WE sWEARf

themselves, repeat with evident gusto
the profanity of others. A man will
tell story interlarded with expressions
which he would not use himself, and
seems to take satisfaction in saying
things which he would be ashamed to
say in his own proper person. Many
a man will indulge in witticisms on the
"strong" language of other, or allude
playfully to the "epithets" scattered
through his talk. An inexperienced
listener would suppose there was some
thing bright and funny in swearing.
We here expressions like these: 81
was so angry wanted to use bad
word;" Il felt like swearing; alt
would have done me good to let fly an
OATH" And these expressions are made,
not with modification and horror at
the sin almost committed, but as though
one had kind Of pride in it
The man who laughs at an oath,
blunts his own moral sensitiveness and
paralyzes his influence against swearing.
Witty profanity and witty vulgarity are
no less profanity and vulgarity because
they excite laugh. Wit and humor
so often debase themselves that man
does not think of repeating to his sister
: or wife the jokes and anecdotes over
which he and his confreres have been
: laughing in the Office or counting-room,
the workshop or club-room, or even the
study. The professional story may be
very amusing, but if it is irreverent or
coarse it defles man. Are not pro-
L family and impurity a sin and shame
: for men as well as women? 1t Is true
s that man in his contact with the world
Il must hear so much that never comes to
. a woman's ears that he is less shocked
: by any development of wickedness.
II With many, profanity is as habitual as
IT talking, so those who count it wrong,
Is do not make any protest; they even
a. excuse it on the ground that the man
does not know when he swears, and that
'n he does not mean any more by it than
~ another when he uses an innocent inter.
DC lection or expletive. But if one ha:
us INDUCED in sinful habit till he cease;
" to be conscious of it, does that destroy
on the sin If man has helped himself
'eU to my money till his hardened con
ne science ceases to discriminate between
OF me1m and tuan, do any the less cal
llu him thief? A hardened criminal i
OF not the more easily pardoned under tn
all the law because he had so often com
nu mitted the crime that the ways of wicked
AS ness are habitual to him.
ar' But though it does not excuse pre-
Or family, there may be hint at the trut
all in the assertion that bywOrds and explt
arc tives are kind of swearing. In what
VI ever way we give vent to feelings wron
St in themselves, or wrong when the
'ne become uncomfortable, we may be indu
Is ing in the spirit of profanity. A col
up temptuous treatment of sacred thing
ing may be blasphemy in the sight of Go
'ne The fierce gesture, the angry tone, Il
leir flashing eye. the scorn of lip and bro1
III may express passion and wlllfulness Il
u same in kind as the startling oat
nad Sydney Smith speaks of wooden swea
Iiier ing" which consists in slamming doc
AaSS and banging furniture. The ang
III exclamation, the abusive scolding
; re- the mistress, the passionate, insulti
one retort of the servant, the hot temp
the and wilfulness of the child, the bywo
o. II of the schoolboy, and the affected {
lAe' CARNATIONS Of the fine lady may all
included in our Saviour's interpretatio
ga of the third commandment and /
w injunction concerning sincerity a
u' simplicity in our communications.
W The voice and speech are the expon
D"O of the man. Listen to person for
" n'H minutes, and you have unconsciOu
'''o- made your estimate of his character a
culture. A slang word from woma
- : lips destroys the beauty of her face
man drops an oath, and you cease to
pect of him the delicate instincts o
gentleman. Have not the listeners SC
P'O responsibility in this matter of speec
Have we no power of resistance aga
-, the prevalence of profanity? We
sensitive and indignant when any ton
-, use the name of friend with lightl
-. or insult We do not generally pre-
-. homily to the man who treats v
ridicule or dishonor, one we love,
: WV we make him sure that we are hurt
" ' irreve-ent and profane mention of
name and attributes of our Divine \
"".H ter ?-IHuStrGted Christian Weekly.
be de-
me up The INCENTIVE TO SERv1cE.-S
Ill re- one has said, there was not man il
With Saul's army but knew that God c,
Mould use him to meet Goliath but there
m up only one that believed that God 20