WAGGING TONGUES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1062, 28 August 1930, Page 6

WAGGING TONGUES

Dear Miss Rutledge, — A supposed and trusted friend has done me an injury. I can’t understand this at all, and, as the circumstances are somewhat involved, and it would be a case of “She said this,*’ or “He did that,” if one tried to get a proper explanation, I wonder If I am justified in keeping a discreet silence until my disloyal friend comes to me. I am a perfectly innocent party, having been blamed unjustly, and as I do not know actually what lias been said, as most of the information came second-hand, I naturally feel it too paltry to feel concerned over. At the same time, people who do not tell the truth should be taught a lesson. Can you advise? TRIED AND TRUSTED. ANSWER

I think that you are taking; a very philosophical view of the situation. It is one of the tragedies of our civilisation that the tongues of men and women are not better controlled and used in intelligent service instead of in so much thoughtless slandering and vicious suggestion. We find, too, that it is not actually what is said, but the way it is said; the subtle, half-veiled allusion that makes all the mischief, and causes the spectre of mistrust and suspicion to stalk unbridled in our midst.

It is so easy to misjudge and misunderstand, and we need to make liberal allowances for each other’s mistakes, lest we, in turn, be placed in the same position. In the words of George Herbert, “He that cannot forgive others breaks the bl'idge over which he. must pass himself, for every man lv : need to be .forgiven.” I recommend yo \ to bo patient and to be reads' - , when occasion offers, to make concessions. ANNE RUTLEDGE;