San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-01-19
BUTTON YOUR LIP.

6UTION 1OOh LIZ.
This rather inelegant, but none
the less expressive declaration, is
one which the present generation
would do well to heed, as to wise
and prudent admonition. 1t is so
seldom that either men or women
repent of the word that is I'M
spoken, that it is a wonder that
reticence in speech is not more
generally cultivated, particularly
at the time when speech is dan
gerous, as under periods of great
excitement. 1t is as true today as
in the day it was spoken, in the
palmy days of Jewish autonomy,
that words fifty spoken are as APP
pies of gold in pictures of silver.
Why it is that the tongue of the
young American should be hung
on a swivel, turning itself equally
we'll in any direction; or like the
brazen clapper of a bell, giving out
sound on the slightest vibration,
is more the enquiry of the scientist
than the preacher. That it is so is
the main fact, and that this asser-
ton is fact is attested by the unan-
imous consent of modern observa-
ton. This irresponsible chatter,
tiresome as it becomes at times,
is not to be so much condemned in
itself as for what it leads to in
time. OF itself it is like sthe
measles, or the whooping cough,
or any Of those little ailments that
distinguish childhood, and which
all must have in greater~6 or less de-
gree. If this chattering habit led
To- ling worse, and could be cut
out of its place when the wisdom
teeth are cut, it would not matter,
and could be endured as a tenn
porary annoyance.
Unfortunately this is not so, and
this habit Of irresponsible Ginning
in childhood in time gives place to
another kind of Ginning that is
not so innocent. Out of this habit
OF not Weighing ones words in
youth comes the vice Of not weigh
ing ones words in older years. Out
of this openmouthedness of the
child and the youth comes the
openmouthedness of the man and
the woman. What might be toll
Grated in the child grows intoler-
able in the adult. The lack of con-
sjderation in the chatter of child
gives place to the lack OF consider
alton in the words of the grown
man and woman. The harmless
ness of the first is succeeded by the
harmfulness Of the second. The
innocent chatter which amuses fol-
time and does no harm, soon
gives way to culpable reckless
ness OF speech which does incalcu-
liable evil. Regulations are stabbed
to death with the stilletto of the
tongue aud there is no surgeon on
earth who can heal their deadly
hurt.
To learn when to speak and
when to keep silence is in itself
liberal education. 1t Is certainly
such an education as comparative
ly few in this neck of the woods
acquire. 1t is such an education
as will most certainly fit its poses
lsor for the greatest success in bust
ness, be it trade or politics or a
PROFESSIONALISM. The young man
who keeps his words under COM
mand and who only speaks when
it IL necessary that he should,
soon comes to be noticed for his
good horse sense. Such a young
man entering the office or the
store is soon marked by his SUI
periors as one to be trusted. He
may not be so Immediately popu-
lar with his fellows as his comrade
who shoots off his mouth on al
Rossible occasions, but he will
stand higher with his employers
and sooner reach promotion.
There are sound reasonslfor this.
The thoughtless mind and the
reckless tongue are always, pairs,
Business sagacity and that bust.
ness reticence which are so neces-
sary to success in business life, are
not the possessions OF those who
80 ,.ooHloaa follrora In this OQU