The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-03-12
SILENCE AND WISDOM.
Tho Two Virtues Do Not Always
Go Hand ~ Hand.
While Many Forge to the Front by Keep
ing Their Mouths Closed, They Often
Fall by Being Forced to Speak
Some Interesting Examples.

Y ~ r VI 81
The silent man buildeth better than
he knoweth. He acquires, wealth, rep
utation and the odor of sanctity. His
rorte is keeping quiet He is the orig
inal Of the poet who said; "Silence is
golden"
But Sir Boyle Roche, the author Of
that famous Irish bull about the man
who put his foot in 1t every time he
opened his mouth, plainly outlived the
ultimate fate Of the silent man. For
that, says the Chicago Herald, is the
invariable fate of nearly all the men
whose entire reputation rests on the
rocky foundation of silence. Lucky he
who has already achieved competence
on the strength of his silence. In nine
cases out of ten he talks too much when
he talks at all.
However, there is generally day
when he is found out. To illustrate:
Several years ago young man went to
the general Office of one of our leading
railroad companies in town. He was
the bearer of strong letters Of recon-
mendation from an old friend Of the
manager in small rural town. The
letters referred especially heavy to the
unusual for his years"-of
the young man, on his marvellous capac-
ity for keeping his mouth shut. The
manager, who had been on the lookout for
asst such young man, at once gave him
aberth in his private Office. He prospered
amazingly, for all that was required OF
him was to exercise his natural talent
keeping his mouth shut. The manager
sworo by him. Other men in the Office
caught the infection. Every clerk came
to look upon Mr.. Tytelipps-let us call
him Tytelipps for short-as phenom-
enon, as model young man. Every
body marveled how this couatry-bred
ysung man had acquired so much wis
dom. Thus Mr.. Tytelipps rose, step by
step, and his salary with him. One day
he was inducted into high and re-
sponsible position, commanding an al
most princely remuneration. For a
little while it was all right. He con-
tinued to keep his mouth shut. But
there was turn in the tide. AT d.
rectors' meeting some information and
suggestions bearing on the better work.
ing of the department whose head Mr..
Tytelipps had shortly become was
called for. Mr.. Tytelipps' assistant, q
man who had grown gray in the service
OF the company and who knew all about
the ins and outs OF the department to
T (but who had the misfortune once in
awhile to talk too much), was sick at
home. So Tytelipps himself had to re-
spond. And when the questions had
been fred at him and the board was
waiting TO be enlightened Tytelipps
shook his head sagely, ooughed and
hemmed and hawed. That "didn't CO."
lie had TO do some talking. Then the
directors unanimously came to the con-
clusion that Tytelipps was monument
al ass and ought to be bounced. And
he was bounced not long after. At least
he was reduced TO the ranks But he
couldn't stand this long. He went, and
when last heard from he was peddling
matches or apples or something.
Another case was that Of Mr.. Bung-
staroer, who became connected with the
business Office OF large newspaper con-
Germ in this city some years ego. His
antecedents were similar TO those OF
Mr.. Tytelipps'-thatis, they were lost in
the obscurity Of some small village. He
came highly recommended. He looked
wise and kept his mouth shut, and he
proceeded on his way upward at Maud
S. pace. Finally he was put in charge
of the advertising department, and his
salary was made high enough to earn
him the envy Of all the brilliant geni-
uses in the editorial-room-men who
had forgotten a great deal more than
Mr.. Bungstarter could by any possibili-
ty ever have learned. 1t was all right
for spell. Bungstarter still kept his
mouth shut, and the bright men work.
ing under him looked upon him as they
had before-as the embodiment OF dig
nifty, classic repose and mastodonio in
tellect. One afternoon, though, small
advertising patron, o man Of no account
whatever, happened TO alight on the
majestic Bungstarter. The point at Is
sue was matter OF couple OF dollars.
The advertiser undoubtedly was right.
lie explained things TO Bungstarter, and
he proved by receipts and other papers
that he was right But Bungstarter
couAn't see it. 1t was really no fault
OF his. Bungstarter's brain was simply
not large enough TO grasp the facts and
figures. SO he didn't give in TO the ad-
vertising patron. But the latter was a
fighter and man determined TO have
HIS rights. He raised his voice, and
after again and again explaining things
To Bungstarter and getting no satisfac-
ton, he forthwith issued pronuncia-
mento against Bungstarter, calling him,
in the presence and hearing Of the Office
employees, an ETC., etc., fool, who had
no business to occupy the responsible
position he did, and winding up with
tho assertion that within fortnight the
owners and business manager OF the
paper would coincide with him and give
him the g. b. The advertiser made 1t
his business TO explain the occurrence 10
every man he knew. He went to the
owners OF the paper. In making ex-
plantations on his own side Bungstarter
so offectually proved that the other man
was right in calling him q fool that ho
really was discharged,
There are quite number OF Tytelipps
and Bungstarters in town, but they are
not generally known. But they will be
ono OF these days; and that the day may
come little earlier than 1t otherwise
would this sketch possibly will help to
achieve.
A Hint TO Parents.