Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1907-09-13
THE LAST WORD.


Did you ever stop to think whether
there was any real satisfaction in
answering back?" We all do it at
times, know, but a mulish persistence
IN having the ''last word never helped
to heal any breach of friendship nor cut
short quarrel. To the contrary, we
simply increase the irritation of the
moment. and prolong a situation that
should not be allowed to continue.
Of course, in the end, one person or
the other does get the last word, but in
real out and out quarrel, which by
the way is about one of the silliest
things two people can indulge in, there
is rarely satisfaction in this achieve
ment. If by it our adversary has been
convinced or seen the error of her ways,
one would positively wish for feathers
20 precl in JOY, instead of this, how
ever, we know that our last word has
merely been another demonstration of
our disagreeableness, and 6Gt added to
the obstinacy of the other. There IS
taken away that healing possibility of
any quarrel, agreeing to disagree, -
which might have been allowed if each
had not hung on with bulldog peril
nacity for the last word and answered
back till it reached point of ceasing to
speak at ALL
One of the delights of well trained
minds is to argue, and between such
arguments and the disagreements of
young people there is every difference.
The latter, being impulsive and enthusi-
astic, each at the same time convinced
that she is right, speedily proceed. to
enunciate opinions as facts and a
friendly difference becomes quarrel
If it is not soon checked.
1t is by no means necessary to agree
always with each and all ones friends,
but it is most important when disagree
ing to keep ones temper we'll in hand
and to remember that, after all, it is a
most trifiing matter whether or not the
other is brought around to ones opinion.
To convince another to ones opinion
of reason, is most difficult, possibly
because human nature being frail, hates
to admit itself in the wrong. But it is
by no means necessary that the other
should be convinced if she does not wish
to be, it is enough that one is right
without 'fguratively batting the other
over the head to make her admit it.
Drop the matter if after few minutes
your theories or opinions have produced
no result. 1t is even worth while some
times to pretend to agree, for, after
all, isn't 1t better to give up in this way
and have general friendliness than ag-
gressively to stick to something that is
of itself most trivial?
A most philosophical young woman
was telling me not long ago that she
had quite given over trying to change
the opinions of her friends about every
thing, even when it was a matter that
could be demonstrated with paper and
pencil. ''It is enough for me to know
that | am right" she concluded. 'It
doesn't trouble me in the least that
they persist in being wrong, so / just
drop the matter, and no feelings are
hurt
There is a good deal of wisdom in
this conclusion, and that it works we'll
I2know for the, girl is popular with
everyone. All will tell you that she
has positive opinions. but that she
doesn't try to force them down the
throats of others, so, you see, the girl
cannot be accused of deceitfulness when
she doesn't enter into violent argu-
ments.-Times-He Herald.