It grows wild like weeds and finds its widest currency. Scandal wallows in mire and swamp and flings mud on all passers-by. Scandal aims at dishonoring innocent persons, robbing them of their good names, wounding their fame, blighting their reputation, blasting their character. Scandal is a mean and mendacious art to bring about the degradation and downfall of the innocent against whom an evil-wishing person has a grudge or to whom he feels dislike. Scandal accuses, condemns, traduces, maligns, and blasphemes in one breath and is out to murder reputations.
Scandal is allied to cowardice.
It dares not face its victim. It lurks and skulks in its hovel and assails him at his back and spits its venom on him from behind. Sharper than the edge of a spear or sword is the dart of scandal. It stabs and wounds and lacerates and kills. Scandal singes and sears and scorches and burns.