St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-23

Thousands OF unhappy homes, OF estranged
husbands and wives, of alienated friends, OF
bitter enemies, the results of sincere speech,
witness against it. But when we praise or
blame let US be sincere. When we fatter 9
person to curry his favor, or to gain some
point for ourselves; when we blame another
for faults of which we know he is guiltless,
we are fiunkies and bathrooms. Praise when
we can, it gives others pleasure, and binds
them to us with strong bands, and when we
must find fault, do it with charity-which is
the most gracious grace.
Another source of gracious speech is sym
pathy. The photographer defines sympathy
as the quality of being affected by the same
feeling as another. 1t is sympathy that
makes charity lovely and precious. Aims
giving has lost its vital essence with
out sympathy. A modern writer
ysas, "There are words which bless
even the very poor more than gifts, which
call forth in them slumbering resources for
their own relief, lifts them up toward the con-
dition from which they have fallen, revive a
hope that is often the earnest of its own full
fillment, and supply the healing for the
broken spirit without which mere alms-giving
but prolongs the death struggle with adj
versity."
OF course, possessing sympathy, our words
will always be kind. We are all struggling
along the thorny road of life, pitfalls and
danger on every hand; the best we can do is
to help each by word and deed. Many a soul
has been lost by words spoken by protesting
Christians. Words of calumny, insinuating
whispers, careless criticisms, have wounded
or hardened many a sensitive heart.
If our speech be gracious, it must be rev.
erential. Flippant mention of holy things is
one of the evils of modern times. Christians
themselves often speak lightly of the things
they profess to reverence. Profanity is but
leVity gone to seed, and the effect of irrever-
entail conversation is to beget contempt for
sacred things. eLet your speech be with grace,
and seasoned with salt.'' The kind of salt
meant here is the salt used by the Athenians
Attic salt. 1t redeems conversation from
stupidity and tameness, and gives to words a
vital meaning. 1t is this salt which makes
the difference between s'small talk'' and en-
tertaining instructive conversation. 1t is this
salt which makes the difference between cant
and ''words fifty spoken"
Cant is simply stringing good words to-
gether as a garment for weak or inapt
thought; Swords fifty spoken are like ap-
pies of gold in pictures of silver" Good
words are not necessarily quotations from
the Bible, or some theological writings. Any
word that instructs or amuses, that elevates
or reines the hearers is good word. 1t may
prove lamp to those "who sit in darkness"
a ray of sunshine dispelling the clouds, or
the clue to a lost trail for a wanderer. Only
the Judgment will reveal the value of speech
seasoned with salt. How much good might
be done, how much evil averted if really
good people would use more of this salt
Unsolicited advice and counsel are very
unpalatable when given by person of judg
ment and blameless life; but when they are
proffered in the usual canting terms by self
conceited persons of mediocre ability, they
breed disgust not only for the speaker, but
for what he says. Christians have need to
set double guard at the door of their lips.
To the grace of truth, purity, sympathy, and
reverence, add the salt of knowledge and
practical experience, and opportunities will
come, where in common conversation "a
word in season" may be spoken, (which
shall prove Seeding for spiritual har-
vest''