Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-05-07
Guarding Ones Speech.

The story of the boy who cried
"wolf" 80 often that when the wolf
really came his cries passed unheeded
has many practical Illustrations
The boy had simply lost reputation
and was not believed. That is the
fate of all who tell lies; when their
character becomes known they are
not believed, no matter how earn
estly they may protest they are tell
ing the truth.
Such loss of reputation is very
serious matter, especially for young
men and young women whose sue
cess in business life is sure to depend
in very great degree upon their
good reputation. They should guard
it, not only by exemplary conduct
in the fulfillment of engagements,
the discharge of duties &C., but by
truth-telling eXactness in their re-
ports and speeches.
Those who are careless in this re-
spect, though they are never con-
sciously tell an untruth, soon become
known as ineXact and unreliable,
and what they may say loses much
of the weight it would carry if they
had maintained a good reputation.
One who is given to eXaggeratiou
has all his sayings discounted, sc
that he finds it impossible to convey
to those who know him an adequate
idea of some really great event. He
has, through habit of eXaggeratiOn
lost to some exteut in the power OF
speech.
Moreover, men who eXaggerate,
usually defeat their own purpose
even with those who are strangers to
them and do not know their faults.
1t used to be the rule of writer
somewhat famous for the strength of
his expressions to write from the
fullness of his heart and then when
in calmer mood to strengthen his
article by removing therefrom
nearly all the adjectives he had
originally employed.
1t is a fact that extravaganza of
statement weakens declaration, and
there is no part of speech of which
more sparing and thoughtful use
should be made than adjectives, and
especially superlatives.
The boy who cried wolf too often
has another companion in the COM
mon scold. People who are always
complaining of others so injure the
reputation that they find themselves
unable to get a real grievance re-
dressed. 1t seems to be the old tale
revived, and those who are forced
to listen to 1t really pay no heed.
The scold is most mischievous in
the family circle, especially if he
or she has to deal with young chill.
dren. The parent who is continu-
ally scolding soon loses control of
the child and finds fresh grievances
in the latter's Indifference to rebuke.
One who, after living in quiet
settles near a railroad
line and finds the unaccustomed
noises almost intolerable, but after a
time scarcely notices them. So also |
the child whose attention may be ar
rested by an occasional rebuke, loses |
of seedlings when he
has heard them every hour of the
lay for weeks together.
The scOlder is really crying wolff
too often and losing reputation to
such a degree that ultimately his
seedlings will pass by as the idle
wind and be unheeded, if not I'M
heard.
1t is well, therefore, to guard ones
speech against untruthfulness, exag-
5eration or unnecessary complain
lngs and to maintain reputation
For exactness, moderation and JUS
tice, so that whatever one may have
TO say will be listened to with re-
'pect and not be passed by as the idle
cry of wolf" when there is no
S,oa.