The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-09-08
+ COMMON TONGUE.

Il GUMMUN IUNGUE.
TIME WILL COME WHEN ALL
SHALL SPEAK ONE LANNUAGE.
Holiness and Righteonsness the
Medium
observations Of Philosophical Friend in Rich
mond Dispatch.)
"Be thou familiar, but by no means
vulgar. ."-Polonius.
"Quod semper, quod ubique, quod alb
omnibus"
The best water and the purest air is
that which has no special flavor or odor
about 1t. Anything that is not of the
very nature of the thing itself, that is
foreign, suggests, or is itself, an imper-
fection or fault. It is so in the dress
of lady or gentleman. 1t does not
draw attention to itself by any ambi-
tious ornament or special display. 1t
is simple, neat, seemly; does not ask
for admiration, but gently comm ands
respect, and exercises pleasant, but
indefnable, influence. And so it is in
manners and conversation. In very
truth, essential virtue and goodness is
spirit that, in a thousand ways and
forms, makes itself manifest. Like the
ointment of the right hand, it bewray-
eth itself.
The whole world aspires to, and
hopes for, common tongue. UniYers-
al weights and measures. a currency
that shall be good everywhere, and be
Just and safe measure and vehicle of
value. Being of one blood and family,
members one of another, and mutually
dependent, we may look for means of
INSTRUMENTATION and Interchange
I-of commerce. We have common
water, common air, and common blood,
and we may well look for those other
things that facilitate and promote COM
merce and healthy and happy associa-
tion.
The time will come when the whole
world shall be of one language, as in
the beginning; when we shall all
gather in the unity of the spirit, and
of the knowledge of the Son of God,
and shall I'll be conformed to His i'm
age, in the worship and service Of the
Almighty. The harmony of the Chris
tian world is not to come of the settle
ment Of theological controversies and
disputes, or the adjustment of ecclesi-
astical dignities and titles and govern
ments, or conformity of rituals, but
of single heart, and an eye singly and
sim ply set on the Saviour as He is
manifested in the Gospels, and as He
manifests Himself to the devout soul.
The diffusion of the light and know
ledge of the Holy Scriptures prepares
the way for the universal language and
common tongue. The best currency
the standard and measure OF value
everlasting truth, absorbs, swallows up
digests all that is good and true and
valuable, and establishes itself. So the
universal language and common tongue
will come-made up of all that is bes1
IN every language.
| Meantime, In all the diversities O.
interests, and principles and thoughts
and desires and pursuits, and condi
tiops IN nations and communities ant
individuals, there are multitudinou'
languages and tongues and dialects ane
yocabularies. And almost every mar
has language Of his own, and his owl
way of Interpreting things.
A common language comes OF com
mon natures, common experiences
common associations, common feelings
, common ideas. No doubt, every liv
| Ing LuIuS LAS u AduSOdSO OOAOAA6AAf3 "
| it's kind-animals and insects.
!, Communities and social circles hav'
their special languages and dialects
The purity, dignity. and delight o
? their language depend on the purity
. dignity, and pleasantness OF th'
. thoughts and feelings and ideas tina
they represent. By their words the
are justified, and by their words the
e are condemned. And on the othe
: hand comm on, vulgar, low-grade
soul will display itself in vulgarisms-
like the troubled sea casting up mir
and dirt.
Our democratic age, that is busy t
= level downwards, will give us CON
q mon language indeed. Its ideal
= sincerity and frankness and honest
wears the lining OF commonness an
Q ignorance and ill-breeding. The n
n straints of decency, modesty, and GOO
, breeding are despised and cast aside
;, hypocritical, and only the low is ho1
est. At least, it is honest to show ou
e selves just as we are, however discredi
e able our display. A madcap rnffia
e and staggering Jack, and his coun
a erpart OF the other sex, in her way WI
:, boldly face down all propriety ar
ont Ao0onOu