E-text prepared by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier, Stephanie Eason, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) Transcriber's note: Text in italics is enclosed between underscores (_italics_). Text in bold face is enclosed between equal signs (=bold=). TALKERS: With Illustrations. by JOHN BATE, Author of "Cyclopaedia of Illustrations of Moral and Religious Truths," etc., etc. "Sacred interpreter of human thought, How few respect or use thee as they ought."--COWPER. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.C.; and Sold at 66, Paternoster Row. 1878. Hazell, Watson, and Viney, Printers, London and Aylesbury. PREFACE. The power to talk, like every other natural power of man, is designed for profit and pleasure; but in the absence of wisdom in its government, it fails to fulfil either. The revelations of human life in the past show that the improper employment of this power has brought upon individuals, families, churches, and empires some of their most grievous evils. The revelations of human life in the present show that this power is still unwisely used, and the cause of similar lamentations and woes. Every man in his own circle, to go no farther, may learn the sad effects following the abuse of the faculty of speech. That member of the body, when "set on fire of hell" (and how often is this!) what conflagrations it brings about wherever its sparks and flames are spread! As a lucifer match in the hands of a madman, when struck, may be the occasion of blowing up castles or burning down cities, so the tongue may "set on fire the course of nature." Not only are talkers the cause of evils on such a large scale, but of evils which, while not so distinguished, are still evils--annoyances that mar the happiness and disturb the peace of individuals and societies--thorns in the flesh--contagion in the atmosphere, which, if they do not create disease, cause fear and alarm. Any one, therefore, who contributes to the lessening of these evils, does a beneficent work, and deserves the patronage and co-operation of all lovers of his species. The prominence given to the use and abuse of the power of speech, in the Scriptures, at once shows the importance of the subject. The connection between talkers and Christianity teaches that this book belongs as much to Christianity in its interests as to ethics in its interests. If in any of the illustrations there may seem to be an excess of colouring, the reader is at liberty to modify them in his own mind as much as he may desire; only let him not forget that "fact is stranger than fiction," and that what may not have come within the range of his experience, others may be familiar with.