Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-12
An UnIucky Error.
By our Philosophical Frien

(By Our Philosophical Friend)
If the old devil had any hand in crea-
ton OF man. it was I'm the irregulation
Of the tongue. And it is probably owing
TO the Weakness OF the human race for
anything Of his that the unruiy member
IS so greatly overestimated. Certain it
is that the multitude regard the tongue
as the best member that they have, and
as a never failing help for peace or
war. And Satan very well knows that so
long as II continues under his manage
ment there'll be no end to strife In the
world. The great trouble is that the peo-
pie love to have II so. They sing their
psalms and say their prayers and READ
their Bibles aloud-all done with the
tonglie-ani then, with the same instru-
ment, they 20 10 work and SANDER ana
Willy and abuse ard tell stories about
one another. and say oil sorts OF bad
things as il that was what they were
made for The authorities say that the
regular tongue of the gossip has under
It the deadly poison of the adder TO
envenom its sharp arrows. Isn't IL
strange that MOI only weather-beaten Old
fades and bitter old reprobates should
good-lookng women and respectable men
should allow the same? Solomon dis
courses very earnestly and persist ntly
about the tongue And one would judge
from his large and unlucky experience
with ladies that he associated the two
together. Anyhow, it would not be bad
thing IL men that are given TO gossip
should be made to wear pettcoats.
IL was a sensible remark of the. wise,
old apostle: My brethren, these things
ought not so TO be. Decent people ought
70 find something els 10 do tnan bIung
and devouring one another, or playing al
the game of buzzard. 1t is canon,
fundamental principle Of genteel society
and good breeding, that peopls and their
faults and troubles shall not be made
subject of conversation.
AS weapon OF war and engine Of Of
fence and defence In hurting missiles the
tongue is very dangerous and formidable.
But. I'm its practical use, In ordinary in
tercourse. It's operation is very unlucky.
Where no fuel Is added the fire goeth
out. And over and over again, where
a rude or untimely or lll-mannered re-
mark is made. II all hands viii keep ST.
ence. the offender will be most severely
punished Of himself. or the remark viii
fall and 90 for nothing.
II difficulties or misunderstanding oc-
cur-the least said. soonest mended-
things will right themselves. Go 10 work
to explain, you'll be misunderstood. and
have to explain your explanation. The
Wis medicatrix naturae Is very great The
air. the course OF business. will take up
and disslpate unpleasantnesss S, and mis-
understandings will rpen into under
standings II you will let them alone.
Kindly thinking, with a desire TO see
things as they are-justly and in their
true colors-is the best cure-all and pro-
m0ler OF peace On the other hand. the
more you say the more you will have TO
say, and the more sure you are to kindle
strife.
The character of Jesus Christ Of Naza-
reth. as presented by the Prophet Isaiah,
Is a very beautiful and pacifying conJem-
plation:
Behold My Servant. whom / uphold.
mine elect. in whom My soul delighteth.
| have put My Spirit upon Him. He
shall bring forth judgment to the Gen
lilies. He shall not cry. nor lift up, nor
cause His voice 10 be heard in the
streets. etc. etc.