The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-04-19
by MARGARET &. sANGsTER.

BY MARGARET E. SANGSIEh.
Copyright. 1906. by Joseph B. Bowles.)
A secret is no longer secret II 1t has
passed your lips. Two persons may
perhaps safely share 1t. but If It be
confded TO the ear of third the prob
ability is that it will before long be
common property BY some strange
fatality few people can be trusted with
secrets, the desire to reveal them
overcoming the determination to be
silent.
OF course there are innocent secrets
and harmless mysteries that belong to
the Joyous and peaceful conditions Of
life, such as the happy secrets that
make our homes so delightful at holi-
day times, or the forecasts of coming
events important in the annals q a
family. These may be and commonly
are preserved intact for a time, or II
they are told the telling does no harm.
But on occasion there are secrets af-
fecting the honor and well-being OF in
diyiduals or a household, and these
should not SO much as be whispered in
the privacy of a closet to ones most
intimate friend, if there is the slight
est danger to be incurred by spreading
them abroad.
For example, man In the prime OF
life suddenly shows symptoms Of mem
tai breakdown. They are not SO pro-
nounced that his business associates or
the neighbors perceive anything out OF
the ordinary, although his wife and
children are aware Of a change and the
family physician looks grave and
sends the patient to specialist. The
tuing may or may not prove serious.
Rest, medical treatment, journey,
the dropping of certain cares and bur-
dens, may result favorably. 1t is to
the last degree unfortunate If some
member of the family In strict conf
dence tell an outsider about the solic-
itude felt. adding the comment that
there is shadow over the house and
everybody has the sensation OF a
sword suspended in the air by
thread.
The friend is deeply sympathetic,
and very much impressed. She watches
the man thereafter with a new and pc
culiar vigilance, detects signs Of oddity
In his conduct that once never would
have occurred to her, attaches mean
ing much too great to unimportant
trifles. and finally thinks it no harm
to whisper the matter under the rose
to her sister, her cousin. or some one
else to whom the parties concerned |
are known. Sometimes this is done in
yelled and vague manner with hints
and inuendoes, and sometimes the |
story is related under pledge Of silence
to third person who is supposed not
to be acquainted with the people men
toned, and who on that account, may |
be trusted. However 1t is done, the |
secret is out. 1t is as If that which |
has been told In the closet Is proclaim |
ed from the housetop 1t may ruin the |
man in business or precipitate dis
aster that might have been averted.
Secrets that have to do with peoples
sanity even though they merely Craze
the edge of conjecture, are not per-
missible nor should they be risked to
the discretion of weak human nature.
Physicians and lawyers are the Gus
todians of many family secrets, and
these are safe because the honor OF /
both professions is pledged and guard
ed by vows and traditions that keep
secrets inviolate. other good men and
women supposed to be wise in counsel
are approached by the worried and
wearied among their friends. and are
asked for advice and sympathy. Often
they give it, sometimes they find it
difficult to restrain themselves from
gratifying the curiosity Of inquisltive
folk who are sure they could speak If
only they would Few indeed are the
counsellors in this world
who have the strength and goodness
to lock a secret forever behind closed
lips.
In certain families there are secrets
supposed to be buried under the ac-
cumulations Of long years. Twenty or
80 years ago something happened that
made stir at the time. but the men,
ory Of 1t has been swept away In the
rapid course Of the seasons, and 1t is
supposed that no one has the faintest
knowledge Of 1t now. Something hap
pens that revives the old name or the
old story.
Somebody tells 1t quietly to friend,
somebody else tells 1t to another. Pres
emily it forms the gist of an interest
ing half column Of gossip in local
paper. the old scandal is revived and
hearts are made to ache, and trouble
that never reed have taken place
springs up in crop Of evil words and
thoughts.
A man or woman may be eccentric
and queer or may fall under tho do
rninion Of tyrannical habit 1t may /
be alcohol or morphia or cocaine. Why 4
speak Of it7 Why tell about the dis !
circumstances that accompany ,
Iapses OF disease? If II be a wCman ,
who Is the unfortunate subject. ii IL .
4 thousand times worse for her than :