The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-02-01
The Power Of Silence.
London Saturday Rreview.

sal LONDON saturday krevlew s5iat |
1t is a familiar observation that the |
great processes of nature are mostly con-
Quoted in silence, and noise is the sign
not SO much of growth as of destruction.
1t is not in the disturbing forces Of the
earthquake, the tempest and the fire,
but rather in the silent advance of long
geological periods, the gradual develop
ment of animal life, and the slow cooling
of the igneous globe, that her still small
voice speaks to the ear Of science. It is,
however, of human conduct rather than
of natural laws that we are thinking
when we speak of the power of silence.
The power of speech in its various forms
whether Of conversation, of argument,
Of oratory, or, in a wider sense of the
word, of written communication, is in
deed obvious enough-so obvious, that
without it, human life would come to a
standstill altogether. arsi nssf ana
Language, as it is constantly observed,
distinguishes the rational from the brute
ingenious sarcasm of great master of
diplomacy, who suggested that the prin
cipal use of language is to conceal our
thoughts, has basis of fact to rest upon.
At all events it is very often used for
that purpose, and in such cases the lam
guage of silence, wherever it is availa-
Bile, for a tell-tale silence, according to
the familiar proverb, may be the surest
means of revealing, not concealing
thought. It is not every one who
knows how "to be silent in seven Ian
guages;" to speak seven languages with
ease, if not common, is perhaps less
rare accomplishment. But the capacity,
where it exists, is real source of
strength, and Solomon intimates that to
be wholly destitute of it is the mark of a
fool, who "uttereth all his mind
A very simple illustration may serve
to bring out our meaning here. One OF
the commonest objections to the whole
class of alleged phenomena which are
vulgarly Jumped together under the COM
prehensiye name of ghost stories is that
they are almost always reported second
hand. The fact is admitted and &C.
counted for III several cases in work on
alleged supernatural appearances re.
viewed in our columns not long ago
Now the objection Of course has it.
weight, paleat quantu,n; but it is not
conclusive, for the simple reason that "a
man of understanding" to use Solomon''
i phrase, if he believes himself to have
witnessed any such. preternatural occur
renee, is not likely to be communicative
on the subject. However strong may b
his own conviction Of its reality, he viii
have q keen sense of the ridicule t.
|, which an open avowal may expose him
|, self and perhaps his family also; while
he will be 80 far from sharing the IA
boys eagerness "to make yer flesh creep,
that in proportion to the depth of hi
!, own conviction will be his unwillingnes
to expose to vulgar criticism, what t.
himself has q character of sacredness.
Il Every one has heard Of Col. Gardiner
visions, and there can be no sort of doub
as to his own belief in them. But whel
!, a rough military friend of his, on frs
|, seeing the account in. print after hi
{ death, remarked that it must be q pur
invention, because Col. Gardiner hal
never told him word about the matter
one feels at once that the objection is ali
surd, whatever may be thought abou
|. the visions. Thus again it is related 9
! Hallam and the poet Rogers, that i
early life they were greatly impresse'
with some mesmeric experiments the
had witnessed in Paris, and on their firs
! return to London began talking freely o
: the subject but when they found 'thei
revelations received with chorus of ir
I discriminate ridicule, they agreed neve
again to speak Of the subject in geners
4 society. s.a4gl lsa .,sssss
nj In such instances, and many more tha
e might be mentioned; silence. is chief
Q used as q protective power, and that
4 no doubt'its most obvious, though by
J. means its only use. Our readers may /
4 aware that in former days the Fellows I
9 Trinity college, Dublin, were forbidde
a by statute to marry; but the yiolatio
y lof the rule, which in fact they seldol
Y lobserved, was conniyed at so long as the
,e maintained a strict reticence on the
&c connubial arrangements, and their wiv
bore their maiden name in public. Oh
tof these welded celibates was asked
Df la friend, who had been much perplexs
- on discovering the state of the case, ho
/ lhe managed to hold his fellowship? "M
II dear, sir" was the reply, ga man c.
e. hold anything who can hold his tongue
tai 1t follows, of course, that man WI
+ wears his heart on his sleeve will
It everything slip through his fingers.
r. This gift of silence is characteristic
i the .scanny" Scot. A. Seotchman W
,e never s'tell lee," but he win make
IS next to impossible for You to discoy
ofI what he wishes to conceal. The surgit
v operation which is said to be requisi
is for getting joke into him is equally ]
b quired for getting out Of him when
b prefers, as he very frequently does pref
DO to keep bis own counsel. he is an ade
3, at beating about the bush, which
; oro<Lar <xrov of saving that he kn0