The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-13

A word fifty spoken is like apples OF
gold in pictures of silver. Proverbs
xvii.
OF the many wise observations
of Solomon none are truer than
that conveyed in the words used
for a text Surely, there Is
nothing quite so valuable as
word fifty spoken. 1t is. indeed,
precious thing, fraught with wondrous
possibilities. Like all things of great
worth it is not easy of requirement or
accomplishment. For the most part,
the folks who have the happy faculty
Ct saying the right thing at the right
time are few and far between. while
those who have the unfortunate knack
Of saying the wrong thing at the wrong
me are as numerous as the grains OF
sand on seashore.
What a much better place this world
would be to live in if every one tried
to reform his ways in this respect; II
there were an earnest effort on the part
of everybody to correct his fault OF
speaking in an untimely fashion.
Words that are unity spoken cause
nothing but trouble. Often 1t Is not
more serious than the hurting of ones
feelings but that is quite bad enough.
Strange as 1t may seem, too. there are
many people who appear to take espe-
cial delight in using their wits and
their tongues to sling out the little
shafts and slurs which cause nothing
but pain and which are always I'M
necessary. A bitter tongue Is, of a
verify, sharper than a serpent's tooth
and often quite as poisonous. Its pos
SCISSOR may think he is smart In using
IA hrrf
he is laboring under a delusion and
conceit which are misguided to de-
gree. If he ever had any claims to
popularity they become the most feet
ing of things. He soon loses the re-
spect and friendship OF all VINO know
him.
The reverse is just as true Of those
gracious people who are ever taking
the greatest effort to speak in anything
but an offensive manner on all occa-
sions. Their words are as Jewels In a
GLADDEN.. They gladden. the hearts of
those to whom they are addressed.
They are the harbingers of joy, the
promoters of good feeling and are
particularly essential to happiness. AS
has been SO we'll said a mans chief
duty in life is to be happy. No man
can De Hdppys lAOu6Ii, WIN
ness around him. Nor is there any
surer way of scattering unhappiness to
the four winds of the earth than by
speaking fifty on all occasions. This
Is mighty difficult thing to do but the
results attained are worth the efforts
to get them.
In this connection it might not be
aniss to suggest that no words are
ever more fit than those of encourage
nent when an act or an occasion af-
fords the opportunity for them. Many
2 man would be helped materially on
his way to a better success and a bet
ter life If his efforts to do his task, no
matter what 1t may be, either in BUSH
ness or in the social sphere, received
such words of encouragement as are
properly due. This does not call for an
indulgence in f1attery. For. as is we'll
known, there is nothing quite SO dis
agreeable and distasteful to most folks
as fulsorne praise which is not de-
served. Honest words of encourage
noent are as different from fattery as
is light from darkness. If more of
them were INDUCED in everybody
would be the gamers thereby. The
blessings of giving outweigh those of
receiving even If the gifts are nothing
more than kindly and well meant
words