The Curse of Reading Thoughts
WHO would wish to possess continually the power of reading the thoughts of his fellows? Such a gift would be more of a curse than a blessing. It is sometimes hard enough to preserve one's equanimity in view of the revelation of another's real thought, which will flash out unspoken, in spite of words and looks—in spite of the polished conventionalisms which society prescribes as a shield of defense between man and man. But always to know the thought that is hidden by silence, or veiled by the polite speech—always to see the mental reservations which accompany the uttered words—always to perceive the motive of the wise saw and the modern instance brought up in personal conversation—this indeed were intolerable. Charity covers a multitude of sins; but most of us have reason to be thankful that our charity in this regard is largely assisted by our ignorance.—Sel.