Article December 10, 1927 Issue

Signs of the Times

with contributions from Edgar A. Lowther, H. D. Ranns, Ditman Larsen

[From the Blackpool Mail, Lancashire, England]

How much has been accomplished by a word in season! Conversation is a powerful avenue of expression. Few human activities are more powerful in their effects than words. Many of the unwholesome forms of conversation are more or less apparent and easily avoided by thinkers, such as expressions of malice, the prophesying of evil, pessimism, a doleful attitude, and silly chatter; but however conscientiously we may avoid such topics of discussion, we are not well ordering our conversation so long as we include the subject of disease unnecessarily. In public places, in waiting rooms, street cars, busses, trains, wherever there is unrestricted conversing, may be heard much unattractive talk on this undesirable subject; and one may wonder at this morbid tendency, since it is well known that, aside from being wholly unprofitable, it often produces the fruits of sorrow and suffering from the seeds of fear it sows. Every conversation is an opportunity to do good and to be helpful. How pleasantly one remembers an hour spent with a wholesome friend! And helpful conversation may sparkle with wit and good humor; it need never be tedious or uninteresting. Our words may inspire and encourage others when we least realize it; and we should be careful always to sow acceptably in the expression of our thoughts.

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