The Washington times., 1913-05-07
r<TALK is cheap" is an ancient.
homely saying. Like a good
many accepted maxims, 1t is

! - du siIiSiCA
homely saying. Like a good
many accepted maxims, 1t is
lopsided. It is true IN gen.
! eral but there are plenty of notable
| specific instances in which 1t is not true.
Some kinds of talk are extremely ex-
| pensive. The expert who KNOWS all
about his subject charges about what
he likes for his talk on that subject.
Another kind of talk that is excessively
costly at times is the sort that most OF
| US give utterance to in moments of
| temper.
At such times We talk high and We
pay highly for the privilege. The kind
of gossip that Injuries regulations is
not cheap talk, as the victims thereof
know only too we'll. So that the Talk
is cheap" maxim has a sort OF list to
| starboard.
| But there isn't any doubt. all the
| same that most OF us talk too much.
| There is so much ordinary. Ingraded.
! useless talk in the world that Talk as
! suredly Is a drug on the market. OF
course the great trouble is that talking
with the greatest volubility most of us
| say so little.
A certain amount Of idle chatter pre-
sumabIy Is necessary for all of US. II
! only TO keep our vocal apparatus oiled
and in condition. But there are few
men in the world who could listen,
! with toleration. to an exact phono-
graphic reproduction of all Of their
| words uttered in the course OF day.
! If We were compelled to listen to such
an unrceling of our inconsequent and
often foolish vaporings, We would nnd
it hard to credit the eXactness OF the
record.
We would find it difficult to believe
that we could. in the progress OF one
short day, exude so much utterly
. trivial talk. And one photographic
treatment of that sort. could II be ar
ranged, would cure a good many OF us
of our needless loGuaeity.
In every age of the world the gar
rulous man has been lightly regarded.
The regulations OF innumerable wise
men have suffered on account OF tnelr
incura BILE tendency To excessive tax
Contrary TO the general opinion. II Is
characteristic Of wise and clever men
TO talk too much. II only TO exhibit
their wit and wisdom. But, in thus eN-
hibiting themselves. they also lose
prestige.
age folk to view with a certain conde-
sCersion, or TO suspect. even the wisest
people who Overindulge IN conversa-
tion They very much prefer the man
wbo knowing very little. keeps that
little to himself and walks through the
world with a dumb assumption OF wis
dom which would not be his II he lived
in the world for ten thousand years:
Happy the man who discovers for
himself just the happy medium between
too much and too little talk! The words
OF such a man carry weight Wmch
often is all out OF proportion 10 the ac-
mai value of what he says, solely be-
cause he has a reputation of one VINO
measures his words.
Tits counsel is sought because he has
shown himself to be master Of tact
turnity ut times when taciturn!ty OBJ
viousIy was his play. And an Uccultly
mirthful meaning Is fixed upon his dry
tests because. seeing that he do2s not
often indulge in persiIlagc. 1t IS taken
| for granted that the things he says III
| his rare moments of expansion must
mean something humurOus-and so his
| listeners lauEh, even though they do
! not understand,
The man who deliberately and visibly
| weighs his words is liable to seem pomp-
Gus to the critical eye. But, In the