Evening star., 1897-04-10
KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT,

Advice That Would BE Useful to a
Young Man In Any Station of Lie.
From Harpers Round Table.
1t is an old saying among schoolboys and
college men that the fellow who keeps his
mouth shut is always the big man: that he
who deliberately says little quickly wins for
himself the name for wisdom. Such state
ments are quite as true I'm the outer world
tc certain degree as they are in college
and school. The pith of the matter is that
If in any way you arrive at a position of
any Importance. the less you talk to every
one the more credit you reserve for care,
for thoughtfulness. for sound, wel!-consid-
cred opinions. Here is nothing which urges
a boy to have no opinions or to never ex-
press them: and in fact this wise silence
at school and college as often, perhaps. COW
ers up an empty mind as it does the wis
dom of Solomon. There is, however. good
rule TO follow, which may be given briefly,
to the effect that it is well to say little
until you have thoroughly made up your
mind. and then not to hesitate in your
statements. The temptation of the average
man Is to express some opinion at once, but
If that is changed later the full force Of the
final opinion is lost.
Let others do the wrangling Your opln-
ion Will have all the more influence IL YOU
come out strong with it at the close of the
discussion, when not only are the others
considerably in doubt as to what they do
want. but you have also had the advantage
of hearing many sides of the case.
That is to say, that in your daily behavior
toward the others in school it is well to
keep your talk in reserve. 1t is a habit
easily acquired. and one that in the end
works both ways. 1t adds both to the
value of your advice, because the advice is
better considered, and it gives the advice
an added value SO far as others are con-
cerned because when you only say little
that little has the more consideration.
nf or
two ways of treating friends and opponents.
One way is as easy another, for both are
merely habits. Many a good chap at base
ball or foot ball is constantly grumbling
whenever the umpire or referee gives a de-
cision. He objects to the decision on prin-
c1ple: he goes back to his place in the field
criticising the partisanship of the official.
ana makes himself uncomfortable as well
er teams. If this young man should he
asked some day-off the field of course
Whelher 1t were sportsmanlke to critIcise
IN the midst of game an umpire properly
CHOSEN ne would, no doubt. maintain in
strong terms that such criticism was the
most unsportsmanlike thing possible and
then ne would promptly deny that he ever
made such criticism. Yet there are many
stch, and 1t Is unfortunately one of the
most common sights on school athletic
held today to find the two teams wrangline
with the umpire over a decision he has
made, and this, too. after he has beer
asheu Ten minutes before to decide all such
questions for them. 1t is only another form
OF the same lack of habit in courteous be-
Eayior, and 1t causes most of the hard
1eei1ng between schools and colleges today
80 one might go on by the hour speaking
oI the d1Herent questions in school and col
lege Hfe which are examples of lack of he
havior Of the most ordinary kind, but the
root OF the matter Is that each boy should
say to himself that he will be constantly
reserved, that he will wait for the proper
hot ho
then act vigorously If he is convinced the
time has come.