The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-09-19
CHIN CHIN.

SYDNEY Smith once had nightmare In
| which. he said, he dreamed that he was
bound TO a rock and that Tom McCaulay
| and Harriet Martineau were talking MIN
| 10 death" The Baltimore Sun recalls this
as a case suggested by the interminabie
nonsense being uttered now in the Senate.
There IS force In the suggestion. what
good can possibly come from postponing
vote on the repeal bill that such speeches
as that Of Mr.. Teller, which we quoted
Sunday. may be delivered? And that is
the speech which is said to have drawn
tears from the Speaker. This Is not de-
bate. 1t is consuming time with idie
words. II furnishes no information to
any one and points out no new differences
from known facts, which is the object OF
debate; but nothing is now being said In
the Senate that brings forward single
new fact or that draws a single new de-
duction. The whole thing is nothing but
a dreary and endless waste. To have to
listen TO or read it is like being condemned
to the perpetual chewing Of sawdust.
When the French Directory were quarrel
ling amongst themselves and making
France ridiculous before the world, while
the great actor of all time was making
Frances name respected and feared by
her enemies, his soldiers marching along
TO new victories. used to say on the road:
"Those babbllng avocats up at Paris, all
talk and no work. What wonder it runs
all wrong? We shall have to go and put
our Petit Caporal there" And they put
him there. So far Is action ahead of
words.
The takers know not how good is 81
lence. Listen TO old Tom Carlyle on no
speaking and silence.
"Uh. yes, l Will say again; the great.
silent nien. Looking around on the noisy
inanity OF the world, words with little
n Gaming. actions with little worth, one
loves to reflect on the great Empire Of
Silence. The novel silent men. scattered
here and there, each In mis- department;
silently working, whom no morning news
parer makes mention Of They are the
salt of the earth The country that has
none or few of them is in bad way.
Like q forest winch mas no IOOlot Nulcn
had all turned into leaves and boughs;
which must wither and be no forest. Woe
FOR us If we had nothing but what We can
show or speak. Silence, the greAt Empire
of Silence; higher than the stars; deeper
than the Kigdom OF Death. 1t alone is
great all else is small. / hope we English
will long maintain our grand talent pour
la silence Let others that cannot do
without standing on barrel-heads, to spout,
and be seen Of all the market-place, cul-
tivate speech exclusively; become a most
green forest without roots. Solomon says,
There is a time to speak; but also time
to keep silence. OF some great silent
Samuel, not urged TO writing as old Sam
uel Johnson says he was, by want of
money and nothing other, one might ask
why do not you too get up and speak;
promulgate your system, found your
sectT Truly he will answer. 1 am
continent of my thought hitherto; hap
PLY l have got now the ability to keep II
in me, no compulsion strong enough 10
speak 1t. My system is not for promul
cation first Of all; IL is for serving myself
to live by. That Is the great purpose OF
II to me. And then the honor? Alas,
yes as Cato said Of the statue. so many
statues in that Forum Of yours. may it
not be better if they ask where is Cato's
statue2
And when he penned these striking
lines who had he in his nina? That
greatest OF all Englishmen, silent Oliver
Cromwell.