Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-12
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRAcEWELL.

And you? Haven't you anything Il
say?" he asked, turning to the young
man.
"I," replied the young man, with 6
grin, 'am a Master Of Silent Eloquence.
mot bad, not bad" thought the Older
man to himself And he went away
wondering II silence could be eloquent
after all.
There can be little doubt that it otter
| is-and eloquence of the highest order
too.
Every one has been mixed up in some
| experience or other where words failed
when silence at the right moment wor
| the day or made everything right.
X *k y
The Master Of Silent Eloquence, who
ever he is--ano, of course, there are
many thousands of him-runs one very
great risk.
Other people may think that he has
no blood in his veins but something
| else, as the French saying puts it.
Manly talk is expected from men, and
he who never has anything to say on
subjects as they come up runs the risk
Of being called an intellectual coward.
The 'timid SOUL as Webster so finely
portrayS him, is not a brave man. He
| belongs to the order Of ''yeS-yes" mep
who will say one thing one moment and
| exactly the opposite the next in order
| to prevent a possible rupture.
Men are too ready to dispute, much
too ready TO become angry over differ
ences of opinion. A test Of how civil
| ICED one is, after all, comes right here
If you cannot hear a difference of opin-
ion without becoming angry about it
you can set yourself down as q fine
savage.
If, on the other hand, you can differ
hole-heartedly with another, perhaps
not agreeing with him In any item, but
at the same time are able to speak with
him in a normal, conversational tone
without your eyes glazing and your neck
becoming red and your voice irritable
be sure that you are on the road to be-
coming q civilized man.
y +
The best use Of this silent eloquence
for the average human being comes in
avoiding the hastily argumentative
person.
This type Of human being has posi-
tive genius for turning what you say
against you. The most harmless state
mentS on your part can be twisted and
turned with all the aplomb Of an expert
cross-examiner.
Undoubtedly the best answer to such
a person. male or female, is none at all
No reply takes the wind out of his sails
1t also gives him no material for misin
depreciation.
He is taken aback when he was all
set to go ahead. The ground slips out
from under him, he graSps at thin air,
and goes down floundering.
Silent eloquence is his master.
y
It Is always advantageous to combine
bit Of craft with silence If one uses
1t for the purpose outlined above.
Obstinately to cay nothing at all when
obviously some retort is expected and
almost called for is not to use silent
eloquence to the best advantage.
Therefore, 1t will be found expedient
In most cases to have ready excuse
for bodily leaving the scene of conflict
so that the attack will perforce have to
be thrown to another.
One well known WaShingtonian makes
1t his habit when confronted by situa-
tons Of this kind to seize a bit of work
and politely murmur something about a
conference" which he must attend
Conferences cover multitude of sins.
as well as other things, and have reached
such position of prestige in the United
States that no further explanations are
asked.
mr. Jones Is in conference" says the
beautiful secretary, with a whitening
infection.