Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-12

| That settles the visitor. He never
| thinks to ask why Mr.. Jones is in con-
| ference, or where, or with whom.
! Jones is in a conference, that settles
him In q chair for an hours heel cool
ing. Such is the power Of the confer
ence, always a useful ally.
| Using silence to the best advantage
! others will have to use their minds and
will power q little, especially II of the
arRumentative temperament themselves.
| It is difficult to state the exact why
of the argumentative temperament. It
delights in difference of opinion, and at
its worst never agrees with anything
any one else says, even when 1t knows
| the other to be right.
In its most common form the argu-
mentative temperament delights in talk
for talks sake. Conversation Is in
dulged in for many reasons, from the
desire for making ones needs known to
grocers and others to the delight Of
speculation with Sir James Jeans on
the mathematical universe.
The argumentattve man likes talk for
talks sake He will talk about anything,
take any side OF question, just for the
fun Of piling words on top Of each other.
possible and impossible Is Of interest.
He has no orthodox and unorthodox
lists, but finds everything to ut into
some category and nothing unworthy Of
his attention.
This man will ind the eioquence Of
silence rather q trial.
Also test.
He viii discover himself sorely tempted
to shoot of his mouth" on any and all
occasions, most particularly when some
thing or other warns him that he should
not.
It is at this time that he needs to
keep firmly in mind the necessity for
eloquence OF the negative variety. Let
him firmly place before his so-called
minds eye the desirahility and beauty
Of the eloquence of silence.
Let him, instead OF counting 10 In
the old-fashioned way, say to himself ::
This gentleman asks for nothing more
than reply from me. A few words
are all he wants. From them he will
be able to draw astounding conclusions.
What those conclusions will be no one
can say beforehand. II he does not get
those words, he becomes inpotent. All
have to do to nonplus him Is to keep
still. Could any course of action be
easier or more effective?"
BY the time he has delivered this
lecture to himself he will have achieved
all the ends of justice and viii find him
self Master Of Silent Eloquence de-
spite himself.
=
SO we have another triumph of mind
over matter.
The working out Of this little plan
to the mind not accustomed to it will
have all the thrill of some sort Of game.
The man or woman who was brought
up to reply to others out of politeneSs'
sake will discover after he has some
practice at this game that an astounding
number of persons today have never
BEEN taught any politeness and do not
in the least expect the courtesy Of q
reply when they speak.
He will find out to his intense aston
ishment that no reply Is quite the nor
NAL expectation Of thousands, and that
with these persons nothing Is more I'M
usual than the courtesy of a rejoinder.
One can hold strong opinions without
blabbing them to every wind. Such is
the policy Of the strong man. He talks
when talk Is needed. but when it is not
he keeps still He is the true Master of
Silent Eloquence. and by his speech or
by his silence equally plays upon q harp
Of hundred thousand strings.