The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-10-23
T"ittInS.

It would be interesting to know how
many divorce suits are brought about
every year by the habit some people have
of twitting each other about past mis-
demeanors or misfortunes. The chances
are that that habit has made more trouble
in families and in society thar any other
one thing.
Observing this the philosopher is
moved to enquire why it should be allow
ed in Christian households. The way in
which the torture is usually applied is
much as follows: Two members of the
family get into an argument about the
price of coal, or the advisability of going
to the theatre. or the election. Each at-
vances all the arguments he or she has
at hand, but fails to convince the other.
Then John remarks that his judgment may
not be good, but he never paid six dollars
and ninety-eight cents for a winter hat
and then did not like it; and Sally replies
that whether she did that or not. she
never went out for supper at the club and
came home at three in the morning with
a fifteen dollar headache in store Now.
neither of these statements has the least
bit of bearing on the tariff question.
In fact, twitting is not argument in any
circumstances. Argument is good 1t is
educational. 1t sharpens the wits and en-
lbles people to put their ideas into care
fully considered English If there is not
too much of it il is one of the most val
liable habits which a family can have
1t is said that Gladstone acquired his ora
ment on every conceivable subject which
went on in his family, and whether the
family of Mr., Gladstone, senior, was
comfortable place to live in or not, there
is no question that the habit of express
ing ones thoughts in way which is 1ogi-
cal and irrefutabIe is most useful one
in social or public life.
But for an argument to do any good it
should be confined to the subject in hand
and not allowed to drift into personali-
ties; and both parties should be ready to
disagree amicably if they cannot come to
the same conclusion. Twitting is not ar
gument; it is simply vftuperation, which is
an entirely different thing. When Mr.
Brown discusses with Mrs. Brown the
question of the monthly coal bill, the
problem under consideration is not her
general good sense and wisdom. 1t is
reasonable to suppose that he has some
confidence in that The average woman.
II told exactly what she may spend for
household expenses, is generally anxious
to spend it to the best advantage The
reason for this is obvious. The home is
the place where she spends most Of her
time, and she is naturally anxious to have
it comfortable. II the two consider the
matter of coal dispassionateIy and rea-
sonably, comparing notes and going over
the accounts, they will probably find out
just how much they must spend on that
commodity: but if one or the other be-
gins making personal insiHuations the
chances are that Mrs. Brown will cry, and
Mr.. Brown will swear. and neither of
them viii know any more about the mat
ter than at first.
This habit is a very common one and
is partly due to bad training and thought
iessness. Children should be warned
against it as they are warned against
untruthfulness and anger. Parents should
never remind their sons and daughters
Of past delinquencies which have been
punished and forgiven. The only way in
which the average human being can live
comfortably is by putting seme~of his
past experiences out of his mind as far as