Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-05-26
A Still Tongue Makes Wise Head.

This was doubtless the solitary aphorism OF
its author. lie, We may be sworn, was en-
phatically a silent man. He kept a still
tongue in his head, never wagging it but
on the one occasion when he thus laid claim
to wisdom on the score OF his taciturnity
1t then wagged to some purpose, for the
world has taken him at his word. His few
words have told better than other peoples
lifelong oratons. ...
Would man pass for one who is pos.
sessed of the most agreeable powers of con.
versation, and the amplest stores of knowl-
edge? Let him not open his mouth but Oh
seine trivial subject, and then let him not
utter more than six monosyllables at time.
Would he be looked upon as one whose opin-
ion is valuable, aud whose judgment is unerr-
ing? Let him keep u still tongue and gaze
with as little meaning as possible at the com.
pany to whom he has left the responsibility
Of carrying on the discourse. Would be
achieve the honors due to wisdom ? Let
him abstain from proving himself 4 fool.
Would he secure q character for eloqueuce
Let him sit mum and listen. Lest it should
ever be said of him, "He has not word to
say IOE ullHSClit lCb ullu OuuLcub W Say
not word and he will avoid the very suspi.
cion it would seem reasonable he should
thereby incur How should he escape the
vulgar sneer, ale hasn't word to throw at
a dog?" Not by being laxative, as seems
most natural, but by being mute.
1t is the simplest thing in the world
He gains possession Of the good he seeks
merely by not laying claim to it. His
mouth is supposed to be full Of pearls and
diamonds only because he keeps it shut
His head obtains credit for being crammed
with noble thoughts, only because he shakes
it. The charm Of eloquencO, and the magic
of wisdom are coHjectured to be the charac-
istics of his tongue when he speaks. for no
other reason than that he happens to observe
in due season, "Sir say nothing"
Ii is the opinion of many that the one
great accomplishment which men who talk
much in society, or make orations in public,
most neglect and yet most need 10 acquire,
is the art of knowing when to leave off.
There is perhaps, greater, more essential
art than that-the art Of knowing when to
to begin Upon tho principle we have been
considering, that knowledge is easily gained.
"Never I" would be the decision of any one
who sees the successful practice of the say.
nothing priuciple-who observes how tact.
turnlty is valued in company, and into what
enviable estimation it raises its professors.
If Dummy always wins, who would not
wish to take Dummy
1t often happens that the agreeable trihsI
or the expert wit, is less successful in fixing
the interest of the company, and in reaplng
ulteriorly the honors, than the grave, calm
cautious listener, who has not uttered six
words the whole evening, and those scarcely
above his breath. The clever controversial
list, and the amusing anecdote-purveyor
may have had it all their own way for q
time, but before the party breaks up, inquiry
is pretty sure to 60 forth concerning the ST.
lent man. The audience can comprehend
the circulator of jests, but the wise man with
the still tongue is above their comprehension
They have clue to the characters of those
who spoke TO entertain them-they know
one another well enOugh-but the silence oil
the one exception is a depth they cannot
fathom. The unknown interests more thar
the known aud the fluent utterers OF taceti0
and the garrulous desoanters on philosophy
sink in comparison with the mysterious anc
unsoarchable wisdom that sayeth nothing.
The truth, however is, that the still
tongue is often the sign Of a stupid head
When speech is held to be the token ant
proof of mans superiority over all other AMI
mails, why should spesOhlossness be token
and proof of the superiority Of man over
man Anybody painting for mArtyrdom,
and determined 10 be miserable. can, when
he will, deny himself the glorious luxury o.