The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-09-28
A Cruel Silence.
Philadelphia Ledger.

There are times when speech Is unreasonable, but there 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. It Is impos sible to estimate the amount of happiness and bene
 fl that is suppressed by this untimey silence. Not only to the absent but sometimes to those present with us, is silence cruel. There is 6 wholesome dread of hattery among honest people which not infrequently leads them into an opposite extreme Of withholding praise where 1t Is due Much dis couragement and many abandoned efforts may be traced to this source O course, 1t is not the ideal of manliness to require such motive The young and inex perienced, the humble and elf-depreciat- ing and all beginners especially need every sincere word of encouragement that can be given. It is stimulus which no parent, no teacher, and no employer can afford to set aside. Has the child been faithful, obedient, studious, self-denying? Tell him so and express the real pleasure you feel Has the young man proved himself trustworthy, indefatigable, intellgent7 Let him have the satis- faction of knowing that you appreciate his efforts Has the timid beginner in some enterprise done we'll for first attempta Do not deny him the incentive to further efforts that your approval will afford him. Silence at such times is not e mere negative blank, an omission; 1t is positive injury, bar to improvement, destroyer of we'll earned happiness. Then, too, happiness, of what ever kind, needs utterance. Sadness and gloom, pain and distress, may we'll have the shield of silence to prevent their diffusion, but every thing that Is bright, cheery and delightful should be shared and spread as far possible. Yet how fre- quently is this reversed, and the misfortunes of life disclosed in all their details while its bless ings passively accepted without remark.
 The shadows eagerly described while of the sunlight nothing is said Is not this also 6 cruel silence? 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 tor 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 hesi- tate to make sacrifices to perform benevolent and kindly actions but who never give free and hearty utterance to the gladness that they feel, or the pleasure they enjoy It is not that they intend to deprive any one of happiness, but they do not realize how much they could thus bestow. While trying in many ways to give light and warmth to their fellow-men, they bottle up their own sum- shine, forgetting that its influence might extend far and wide. Let all such pernicious silence be speedily broken. If the day is fair, and the air pure and clear, let emphasize the fact if we any beauty, let us point 1t out If feel any joy, let hasten to share 1t; if we have received any good, let us freely express it. St. Paul tells us, "Whatsoever things are true, honest, just, or pure, or lovely, of good report if there be any praise, think on these things" And if as we think we also speak of them with freedom and gladness, the world will be happier and better for having lived in 1t.
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