The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-10-19
PERNICIOuS SILENCE.
Do Not Hesitate to Cheer and Encourage
Your Children and Employees.

Do Not Hesitate to Cheer and Encourage
Your Children and Employees.
There are times when speech is I'M
seasonable, but there are also times
when silence is wrong and even cruel.
If there is much said that should never
have been breathed. there is also much
that ought to have free utterance
which is never spoken. 1t is impossi-
BILE to estimate the amount OF happi-
ness and benefit that is suppressed by
this untimely silence. Not only to the
absent, but sometimes to those present
with US, is silence cruel. There is a
wholesome dread of fattery among
honest people, which not infrequently
leads them into an opposite extreme Of
withholding praise where it is due.
Much encouragement and many aban-
doned efforts may be traced to this
of manliness to require such motive,
but few approach the ideal, and few
can dispense with the motive. The
young and inexperienced. the humble
and self-depreciating, and all begin
ners especially, need every sincere
word of encouragement that can be
given. 1t is stimulus which no pa
rent, no teacher and no employer can
afford to set aside. Has the child
been faithful. obedient. studious,
self-denying? Tell him so, and ex-
press the real pleasure you feel.
Has the young man proved himself
trustworthy, interchangeable, intelligent?
Let him have the satisfaction of know
ing that you appreciate his efforts.
Has the timid beginner in some enter
prise done well for a first attempt?
Do not deny him the incentive to
further efforts that your approval will
afford him. Silence at such times is
not mere negative, blank, an omis-
sion; it is positive injury, a bar to i'm
provement, a destroyer OF well-earned
happiness. Then, too, happiness, of
whatever kind, needs utterance. Sad
ness and gloom. pain and distress, may
well have the shield OF silence to pre-
vent their diffusion, but every thing
that is bright, CHEEKY and delightful
should be shared and spread as far as
possible. Yet how frequently is this
reversed, and the misfortunes of life
are disclosed in all their details, while
its blessings are passivcly accepted
without remark. The shadows are
eagerly described, while of the sun
light nothing is said. Is not this also
cruel silencep Happiness is to the
heart what sunlight is to the body, and
he who shuts out either is an enemy to
society. There are persons who will
work for the good of their fellOw-men,
who will give money and time, labor
and thought. to reforms and schemes
| for general welfare. who will not
hesitate to make sacrifices to perform
benevolent and kindly actions, but who
never give free and hearty utterance
to the giadness that they may feel, OF
the pleasure they enjoy. 1t is not that
they intend to deprive any one of hap
piness, but they do not realize how
| uluCu buCy COulu GullS uCoLOW. w lin
trying in many ways to give light anC
warmth to their fellow-men, they bot
tie up their own sunshine, forgetting
that its influence might extend far an6
wide. Let all such pernicious silence
be speedily broken. If the day is fair
and the air pure and clear, let us EN-
phasize the fact; if we see any beauty
let US point it out; if we feel any Joy
let us hasten to share it; if we have re
ceivcd any good, let us freely express
it. St. Paul tells us, "Whatsoevel
things are true, or honest, or just. Of
pure, or lovely. or of good report, i
there be any virtue, and if there b.
any praise, think on these things.
And if, as we think, we also speak o
them with freedom and gladness, tn,
world will be happier and better fol
our having lived in it.-Philadelphi;
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