The Opelousas courier., 1889-05-18
READER. SPEAK KINDLY.
An Excellent way OF Exerctslng . Good
influence Over Others.

and wives, bound together as they are
in the most intimate of all earthly re-
lations, and necessarily in constant in
.tercourse with each other, c~onsecrate
and hallow the sacred relation, n
bless themselves, by always using kind
words when they speak to each other!
Where is the place for hard words,
angry words and words of reproach and
bitterness? Such words always leave
a sharp sting behind them. They are
not the words of affection, and become
neither husband nor wife. They con-
tribute nothing to the happiness of
either, and are the prolific sources OF
a large amount of misery. The hus-
band who abuses his wife by his words,
and the wife who snaps and snarls at
her husband, are alike untrue to their
marital pledge, and really in a very
bad way. Such husbands and wives
ought at once to repent their sins
against each other, and acquire better
affections and better
Speak kindly. Why not? Why
should not parents always speak in
this way to their children, and why
should not children always SO speak to
their parents? If parents thus speak
children will naturally learn to do the
ama tSing. The example by the
parents will reproduce itself in the
practice and habits of the children;
and the latter will grow up into man
hood or womanhood with a gentleness
and softness of manners, and a care
fitness in the use Of words that is
characteristic of refined and cultivated
beings. Authority, when exercised
through kind words, is scarcely felt
simply as authority. The element OF
severity is withdrawn from it; and
obedience to it is secured by love.
Parents who allow themselves to get
into fits of passion with their children,
and then thunder and storm at them
in the language Of vehemence and
anger, are making a grave mistake in
the matter Of family government.
Such parents need first of all to govern
themselves and put their W passions
under a healthful restraint.
Speak kindly. Why notp Why
should not brothers and sisters living
in the same house, eating at the same
table, and fed and clothed by the same
bounty, always speak to each other in
this way? By so doing they will minis
ter to each others happiness, avoid
petty quarrels, make home pleasant,
cultivate good affections, crafty their
parents and please God. AS they be-
come men and women they will be
scattered hither and thither; and when
thus scattered it will be pleasant for
them to look back TO their childhood
days, and remember that their inter-
course with one another was kindly
and affectionate. The friendship then
formed will follow them.
Yes; speak kindly. Why not? Why
should not men who are associated to-
gether in business study and practice
the law of kind words toward each
/ otker?SWhy should not the master
speak kindly to his servantp
Why should not one speak kind
ly to- a stranger who may ask
him q question? Why should not those
who differ in opinion address each other
in the use of respectful and kindly
words? Why should not those who
oppose moral evils temper their Ian
guage with the law of kindness in the
form OF utterancep Why should not
the minister of the Gospel, the doctor
and the nurse in the sick-room, the
buyer and the seller, the banker and
the merchant, the governor and the
governed. the judge on his bench, the
warden of a prison. and, indeed, every
man and every woman, OF all occa-
sions, in all circumstances, and under
all p~rovoeations. both study and prac.
tiee the law of kind words in the total
intercourse of life from the cradle to
the gravea
We would like to have our readers,
each one for himself, ponder these
questions; and also the title placed al
the head of this article. There is an
amazing power for good OF evil il
words. A large part of human in
auence is exercised through this chan
mel. What one is in life, how he at
fects others, and how they win feel to
ward him, depends very greatly upor
the use he makes of his tongue. I
he goes through life with a lawless ane
acrid tongue, as the instrument of al
equally laWless aud acrid heart, hurl
ing epithets right and left at others
b~listering the sensibilities of his fel
low-men by his own vehemence, ant
disgusting them with his Vulgarity.
he may set it down as a fact that h
will make himself a nuisance
In the social system. Every body
will be afraid of him, an,
nnaanage, as far as possible, to keel
clear of him. II, on the other hand
lie sweetens his own life with kindnes
of feeling and kindness of words, b
will always be a pleasant person t.
meet, to talk with, and be acceptable
and agreeable any where and every
where. Society will find good use TO
such a person, and will use him to it
advantage anu his advantage. Kin
words are the cheapest, and, at th
same time in practical power for goo
results, the most potent words that on
can use. Reader. speak kindly. 70
will thereby avoid saying what Nigh
be offensive to others, and while max
ing yourself happy also make other
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