Year: 1875

Among the many causes of pain and sor-


row in the world, the most potent are the
wounds we wantonly nAict upon each other.
When we reflect on the numerous trials
which visit mankind, in the shape of power
ty, sickness, bereavement, the failure of eff
fort and the disappointment of hopes, it
would seem as if none could be found so
cruel as willfully to add to the long cata-
| logue. That there are some who do this de-
! liberatey, and many more who did it
| thoughtles,ly, must be admitted. Perhaps
| there is no weapon so strong to injure, and so
keen to wound, as the tongue. Capable of
| showering the richest blessings of love and
| sympathy, of hope and cheer, of instruction
| apd encouragement, it is yet too often made
the channel through which the venom of sell
iishness and malice flows to poison and destroy
the human happiness. No not only through
open kindness and harsh asperity are the
wounds of the tongue inflicted there is Il more
insiduouS and secret course, less palpably cruel,
otten indeed, assuming the guise Of appa-
rent sincerity and friendship and thus wholly
escaping the opprobrium it justly deserves.
Of all the evils that corrupt our social life
there are none SO pcrnicious as those infict-
ed by the cunning and malicious tattler.
When we meet face to face with a foe we at
least know what we encounter, and can pre-
pare for the assault; but when we are stab
bed in the dark thrust at by sup losed
friendship and smitten by the hand that Ca
resses us, then indeed is a bitter cup present.
ed to our lips. 1t is impossible to calculate
the power for evil that is welded by such
character. BY willy conversation he may
worm himself into others secrets, and then
disclose them, causing infinite injury; by
misrepresentation and exaggerated coloring
he may produce utterly false impressions,
breaking up friendship, sowing the seeds of
distrust, casting equyocal slurs on the char
acter and conduct of those most worthy
Of respect, magnifying pretty acts of thought
essness or trivial errors into serious and un-
pardonable offences, and in a thousand ways
clouding the happiness and destroying the
peace Of those who have 4 just claim to SYM
pathy and regard.


What a contrast to such character is
that Of the sincere, truthful, self-respecting
person, who so earnestly and energetically
pursues his own occupation that he has
neither leisure nor inclination to Fry into
the affairs of Others who with all simplici-
ty and faithfulness, fulfills his own relations
in life and leaves Others in freedom to fulfill
theirs; who is as strict in preserving, unsul-
lied, the reputation of others as in respect
ing their rights of property. Such a one is
not afraid of suspicion, for he is himself un-
suspicious andiis ever more ready to discover
the eXcellencies of others than their defects
he fears not calumny, for he never stoops to
calumniatc another he breads no exposure,
for his te is one of transparent sincerity.
Thoroughly respecting others, he commands
for himself the respect of all. His own
troubles are not paraded for the purpose of
exciting pity, but are borne with fortitude
while he never suffers them so to absorb him
as to prevent his ready sympathy with those
of others. His joys are multiplied by shar-
ing them with his friends, and he can usual
ly command


"a heart at leisure from itself


10 SOOtne ana syllpalllLe''


OF all the qualities which combine to form
the blessing and charm of social life, none is
more essential than straightforward SINGER
ty. To be true to our own convictions, to
be true to all professions Of friendship or re-
gard, to be true to justice, honor and integ-
rity-in word, to be faithful to principle, is
to lay the only possible foundation on which
social happiness can be maintained. With
out this, enyyings, jealousies, selfshness and
ill-will will forever corrupt and embitter our
whole social fabric, Directly we allow insin-
cerity and doubledealings to creep into our
intercourse, directly we suffer hypocrisy or
deceit of any kind to tincture cur conversa-
ton, directly we permit selfish, envious or
jealous feelings to cloud our affections and
repress our sympathy-that moment do we
introduce poisonous element into our So
ciallie that must eventually corrodeit we'll
fare and destroy its happiness. Simplicity,
fidelity and purity of heart and lips from the
atmosphere in which social happiness loves
to dwell, and only through their continued
| influence upon society can it be purified,
| sweetened and made to yield rich and abund-
ant fruit