Show uv i ns it Is scarcely conceivable that a man aud and a nd hla wife ima can live together tor for a lengthened without speaking to each other bat we came abress across a ease case a few days ago where such each a silence had ulu been da en maintained tor for eighteen years yeara the couple in question did not agree on certain points and as arguments led tw to quarrels the wife con eluded that it would he be a good plan not to speak to each other the husband agreed and the difficulty was waa then how to communicate with one another seeing that they continued to live in the same house bouse A cat became their go between or rather several of these animals during the long period of their silence it the husband wanted anything he told the cat in his cifes hearing and she in like manner apprised the same me animal when her husbands dinner was ready rather an unsatisfactory way of doing business one would imagine how long such a silence will be continued it is difficult to say but after eighteen years of it it Is not too much to expect that they are somewhat tired of their peculiar system ot of married life another married couple kept silence for twenty years the man had a violent temper and one day after having a row with his wife he vowed that he would never speak again the couple continued to live together in the sane sa ne house but ut no conversation passed pa ased between them for the period stat stated ed at the end of that time however the man tell fell ill and relenting of his rash vow he broke through the long silence the illness immediately preceded his death and as may be expected the wife nursed the husband who for 20 years had not spoken to her in the most faithful manner in another case two schoolboys who wh 0 were great friends quarreled and as a result they vowed that they would never speak to each other again these resolutions were kept tor for sixty sitty years but last year when attending a holiday gathering of their old school to which former pupils had been invited they decided to forget the past and at once entered into conversation they recounted their experiences experience to each other and appeared to be two of the happiest old scholars at the gathering we have heard of prisoners being condemned tor for a short period to the s silent ilent system but this although an unenviable position is not to be compared with that of the trappist monks in italy who take a vow of eternal silence in france too there is a convent where between forty and fifty women have taken shelter and lead a remarkably silent life they never speak to each other never lift their eyes except when in prayer or at work and never leave their silent home tit bits |