The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-28
now 40 BE AGKEEABLE.

| 1t is q good, safe rule always to consult
] the agreeable. When Jobs friends came 10
see the old man in his misery they first sat
down by him aud did not have a word 10
say. They made themselves very agree
able. 1t is astonishing how agreeable We
can make ourselves by keeping our mouths
shut; if we only feel amiable. But the old
brethren wouldn't let we'll enough alone:
so they went into the subject: they philoso-
phized, they talked very fine poetry and
piety and bored the poor fell
low beyond endurance. They tried
TO show him what mistakes he had made
and how he had brought the whole thing
upon himself. And they made him wish he
was dead and buried-that he had never
been born. And they made Mrs. Job Join
with them. But he had the pluck to answer
them. And they did not get particle
of credit for their pious visitation on the
contrary. they have been held up TO the
world ever since to warn the Jealous against
being Jobs comforter"
Possibly the fact that it is a very easy
thing to talk, and that words are very cheap.
makes them to be adopted as a ready and |
universal panRcea. While philosophers /
have maintained that they are very dan
gerous instrumentalities, and regard the
tongue that dispenses them as IAN unruly /
evil, full of deadly poison"-ready TO bless
God, and curse man, who was made after
His likeness. Some say that words are like
poison, whereof little more than a little
is By much too much" And still the CON-
mon world feels like the fellow who was
waiting on the apothecary daintily weighing
the least bit of strychnine and pleaded: 20.
give him good measure; he's mighty sick"
And so the people pour out the words with
out stint and make little misunderstood
ngs great and small tangles hopeless.
In the matter Of agreeable intercourse
words are much misunderstood. 1t GER
-ainly is not the quantity that determines
she pleasure Of conversation. nor the cru
ition, nor the rhetoric, nor the reading. nor
he power. If a thing is unpleasant in itself,
he more you have of it the worse you are
III. Moreover. though il is true that light
8 sweet. yet dazzling lustre is painful. And
he richest and most varied feast may be all
poiit by the presence of a discordant ele-
nent, Of some one whose tone and counte
lance and noisiness pervades everything.
angling out of tune and harsh.
1t is in conversation and social inter.
curse. as in everything else. quality and
ayor, and not quantity, that gives value
nd acceptability.
The prime essentials Of agreeability are
nseldshness. mutual respect, good sense !
nd kindness The absence Of these makes
weet waters bitter as the absence of salt
makes good potatoes bad. Their presence !
all give richness to the poorest show of
nowledge and make very little 90
very great way. And yet there are many !
18th the reputation Of great conversational Y
is that are in fact real and essential and {
uge bores. They are very accomplished,
ave read everything, can talk by the hour,
70 veritable eyclopadiac mills; are like Z
10 wonderful fellow who can play on i've /
struments at the same time and yet we =
% glad when they have got through and =
e out of hearing
when leg OF a mutton has sleepy /
ste 1t Is offensive; when beef smells beefy
is spollt; whtn plum pudding tastes Of +
et 1t is horrid, and when human com. /
'und Of the very richest is tainted with
lhseness and shines with parade it ceases
be acceptable and agreeable il is branded
common, an advertising sample. o
In the misuse Of words as means of pleas 4
z. fun and wit are woefully abused. An h
sment of wit is surprise. In common life b
cry one has right to expect courtesy and ~ ~
cent regard FOR feeling. Ill manners and b,
iy words are and ought to be a SUNRISE W
ways in decent society. But how often II
they pass for wit? A laugh that makes "
other ridiculous is gross breach OF pro- oh
lety. whoever causes IT, and il brings ~
ioredit On the author Of il Adraaoed 3. ~