The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1884-10-03
IItG '~Wsi ut u -tLtIF-tI.
Conversation. No. >.

Solomon says. There is Il time 10
speak, and Il time 10 keep silcncc.''
Alas, some people seem To think that the
time to keep silent never comes 10 them,
and that solomon had no reference To-
them whatever in the latter part of Tie
sentence. They seem 10 be able To t;ilk
necessarily. without labor or reelection,
and ii neyeg occurs To them that they are
entertaining Others ut their own expense,
and they sink lower in the estimation OF
others tie more they show of themselves
To persons OF few words, these takers
are a great trouble. ..As hills OF sand are
10 the steps Of the aged, So is one of many
words 10 Il great man. Ii might be tX-
pecsed that the presence CT superiors i'll
years. knowledge. and experience woald
impose silence ON the talkative professors;
ut least, that they would patiently anu
respectfully wait their time TO speak.
And added TO the insigniticance usually
attached to persons of this character by
.ill men of sense and worth, MAY be men
toned the cool neglect which is manifest
when anything may chance to be said by
them that really deserves attention and
regard. Solomon with two strokes Of his
pen sets of the character and viciousness
of these great takers. when he that is
fool wa!keth by the wayside, his wis
dom failetiI. and he sayeih 10 every one
that he is a fool'' In tie multitude of
words there wanteth moi sin.''
We may venture here to remind al Of
the danger involved III what frequently
engages the greater part q conversation.
|. e., Il free and licentiouS use OF ianoiiage
IN elt;ss.f Vii rice nret.ision
and graphic skill the portraitures Of char
aeter. This is indeed Of very delicate
and dangerous nature; for such Is the
CONSTITUTION of society. involving so many
conflicting interests, competitions, leal-
olIsies, Misunderstanding, and selfish
purposes that nothing il more difficult
10 poor human nature than te observe
carefully perfect neutrality and candor
i'm Csnvassing the character and affairs OF
friends and nei"hbors. Who in this mat
ter can trust himself? When wit, beauty,
talents, fortune. fame, and learning arc
compared. Who can speak 4 word with
ont diSnara- cement. or without DffenSeZ
Surely then it is wisdom to decline alto
gether subject that cannot be undcrta-
Ken in safety.
10 be silent, and easy on all proper
| occasions. requires in all persons, and es-
/ pecially i'll the formerly habitral to I'M
moderate conversation. SO strong is the
I temptation. in many eases, to talk in the
7 spirit of jealousy, envy. suspicion, and
/ dIsapprobation, that there Is no DISPOSE
I ton to put Il favorable construction upon
| the words and actions Of others. or 10
defer final Judgment till further develop
mea:s arc made. Objections are removed
! froIa their true position. and circumstan-
ces arc distorted, exaggerated, or mag
niiied. to suit the purpose, and Thus for
Z ..Ef4ns.tfnss IL l.. IA,
/ speak with the tongue of men and angels
ON religious matters, than 10 utter /. sin
/ ale SYLLABLE Of charity.
And when il tie time Of silence? When
We have nothing 20 say; or when what
we would say had better remain unSaid,
or when another can say what ought To
he said better than we c:sa say il; oil when
another has a better right to speak than
we have; or when the presence Of par
tiealar persons, frequently imposes 81
lence respecting the:a, or others, or our
selves; or when it might interrupt con-
yersafioa for us TO speak: or when II we
should speak, it might divert from con-
versation of Il more agreeable and profit
able character. We should take great
care thai nothin. may escape us which
can expose us to censIre. or rcpr0aeh !:
nothing injurious To those who are absent
or those that are present: hoiBtHg hla-
lignaut. nothing iIssincere. or which may
corrupt, nothing which may provoke or
mislead those about us. Nor sheuld W.
be content that what we say is innocent !;
j: Should he our desire that il may be ed
ifyiug TO ourselves and others. For this
view We shorid have some interesting
subject always ready. aud watch for de-
cent opportunity for Introducing il. and
If objections are raised, discuss tiicih
, fairly aud dispaSsionalely. aud il the.e
l.e 10 agreement, maintain. anal exhibit
the utniost respect fer those Who may,
. honorably disagree s.itlIyot. and llus re-
-peciing each oiits. yVu will je respected
and Your life VIII be profitable tn your
self and others. then, whatever we say oT
To will lie wnrihy tiie character "f rea-
: sonable creatures aud ef Christians
j. ". uE4.sS.