The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1917-05-25
Nashville, Tenn May Is, IL
PRAISE.

Though we may confess it, praise
is something that We all like. Not
praise which is fulsome and exag-
gerated, but praise which is given in
kindness and which is merited, or
deserved. Many of us, If not the
greater number of us. are susCepti-
BILE to flattery, which is another name
for fulsome praise. To the sincere
man, or woman, however, flattery is
distasteful, for it does not ring true;
it has the resonance Of the tinkling
cymbal of sounding brass, hollow and
insncere; it neither satisfies nor
gratifeS Only the little soul is
stirred by flattery. On the other
hand, work of kindly praise, spok-
en- becomingly and at the right time,
is as incense to the soul 1t exalts
and uplifts the spirit to immeasura-
bic heights. 1t cheers and heartens
the recipient, encouraging him and
confirming him in his good inten-
tons. 1t stimulates him to kinder
and Drawer deeds and to nobler pur-
poses.
How often we lind ourselves hest
tating between duty and inclination.
At such time word of praise, gent
ly spoken, opens the way before us
and helps us to make the right deci-
sion. Oh, the power there is in the
proper word, spoken in time! Who
can measure its reach, who can de-
scribe the bounds of its influence?
Praise, bestowed in kindness and
sincerity, gives joy both to the giver
and to him who receives it. BY
praise, we'll meant and as well de-
served, do we bind our friends to us
hy ties strong and unbreakable
Praise stimulates love and loyalty.
Praise generates ardOr and inspires
zeal to return kindness for kindness.
Praise is one of the lubricants,
known to the wise, which makes the
machinery OF life Tnn smoothly and
without creaking. Praise solves many
hard problem of life Praise is a
leeyr Of tremendous potentiality. BY
praise we surmount many formi-
dable obstacle In many things of
life we refuse to he driven, but how
easy it is to persuade US by a gentle
word, kindly and fittingly spoken.
How the spirit expands under
praise! How the kindly word Of
commendation makes the heart to
glow. How our burdens fall from us
and become as nothing under the
gentle ministrations of praise. How
we are strengthened in our purpose
to do good by quiet, timely word,
of approval!
And yet, knowing as we do the
power of the kindly word, how
strange it is that it is so seldom spok-
en-, 50 often withheld. 1t is as though
the language Of praise we're a foreign
tongue to us, which We are unable to
speak How easy we find it to con
denim, and how difficult to praise.
How reluctant we are to give voice
to the better impulses of our hearts,
to reveal to those around us, even
those whom we love, our kindly and
loving thoughts of them. Indeed, it
requires rare wisdom and discern.
ment to utter the word of praise
which is both fitting and timely, and
perhaps it is because most of us lack
that wisdom that more praise is not
spoken. 1t may be, too, that we lack
the courage, for many Of us are
strangely different in these matters
of the emotions.
But let us all cultivate the habit
of kindly thought and kindly speech
Let us learn to speak the word in
season. Without descending to fiat
terry, which is unacceptable, let us
learn to give praise where and whea
praise is due. Thus will we add i'm
measurably to the worlds joy and in
so doing increase our own beyond
the telling.