A n . experiment was recently con ducted by the United States Navy in cooperation with a speech research team from Kenyon College. The test was to prove that when a person is shouted at he w ill always shout back even though he may not see the other person. A ll forms of communication were used, telephones, intercoms, and other similar devices. The purpose of the tests was to determine the best tonal quality to use when giving orders or commands aboard naval vessels. Not only did a softer voice bring a softer answer, but also it resulted in a ready desire to accomplish the request or task. No information is given on what this cost the Navy (and ultimately us as tax payers), however, the Bible could have told them what they wanted to know, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grevious words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness” (Prov. 15:1-2). No wonder the apostle James has exhorted us “Wherefore, my be loved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19). God gave us two eyes, two ears, but one mouth in order that we may see and hear twice as much as we speak. * * * He who has a sharp tongue will wind UP cutting his own throat.
A little girl ran in from play and sat herself down on the kitchen stool. Placing her face in hgr hands site in tently watched her mother who was. hard at work. Noticing her daughter’s actions, the mother smiled kindly and asked, “What is it you want, dear?” You can imagine the joy of heart she experienced when the little lass re sponded, “Oh, Mommie, I don’t want anything. I just want to sit here and love you.” This is what the Psalmist meant when, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he wrote, “Thou w ilt show me the path of life: in thy pres ence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there a r e pleasures forever more” (Psalm 16:11). h h h Jesus lived .that He might die and died that we might live. * * * A MEASUREMENT OF PAIN The Chicago Tribune recently car ried a news item concerning the de velopment of a new scientific device which measures the degree and extent of pain in the human body. The ap paratus is called a dolorimeter, the name coming from the Latin word, “dolor” meaning pain or anguish. Of all sensory responses pain is perhaps the one most vital to survival. It warns of physical injury and triggers protec tive reflexes. Among the most intense 25
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