Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-07-31


the catalogue of depravity, catch at an
accidental or excusable vulgarism-
trumpet forth that an insult to delicacy,
sensibility and breeding had been offer
ed, which however politeness would for
bid him to mention, and finally apply the
general charge OF blackguardism of cha
racter or admit the inference to be drawn.
When either male or female, what
ever be their character in other respects,
fall out with a 4yord, let their FURRY be
SUSPECTED if they publish and perpeluate
its remembrance. And when he who
Is destitute of every other moral claim to
respect shall for months or years reite-
rate comparatively riAing deviation
from breeding as sufficient apology
for the general malice he displays, the
public should on account of that very
trait, settle his rank still lower in the
moral scale and still higher in the scale
of iniamy. The general RIGHTEOUSNESS
OF the times--the prepondcrance of male
society here, among the most of which
conversation suffers none of the re.
straints which the habi,ual pres ence and
influence Of females impossible COM
parative seclusion from the formal re-
finements of delicacy among the more
fashionable world-the daily communion
with both sexes not nncommonly sensi-
tiOe on such POINTS in conversatlon-the
partially paralyzing influence Of some
professions on these sentiments--the
privilege of narratiop-all these and
many more should be taken into consi-
Iteration by the charitable, the religious
or the candid, as iavoring the SUPPOSE
tion-that lapsus llnguae, not fault
of the mind, was the cause of the outrage,
and plead an excuse of the person if not
of the thing. But there are no palliating
terms in the vocabulary ofthe slanderer;
rather indicate, occasionally gross, are
expressions too mild to suit his purpose,
because the idea conveyed would be too
near the truth all that is yellowish, is
yellow; all that is blackish, with him is
black; a single spot will give the color
to whole mass. A single act not &C
cording with his ideas of delcacy is suf.
ficient for him to fix the character as
gross, indelicate, or blackguarl--asin single
excess, is enough to ensure the unfortu-
nate the charge OF dissipation or mtem-
perance. Thus are lndiscretions magni
fled and tortured into crimes. Tale after
tale thus disfgured and bloated are, for
lack of serious offence against moralil
or religion, constantly sent afloat an,
make up in number what they want in
weight.
A may kiss the wife of his neighbor
B, and have his own wife kissed in re-
turn, without any i'll will being excited.
c may pull the wife of B by a mistake
on his knee, and no notice be taken of H.
at the time; B may even request c to
interfere in circumstances in which
delicacy or decency can ever receive d
shock, it must be of the highest degree
But if some months afterwards allerca
ton should ensue between c, of the one
party, and A and B of the other, then A
and B both unite in condemning the in
delicate, ungentlemanly conduct Of C,
and circulate the story not only over
their own county but by means of travel
lers over the whole state; very adj
einstance of the sensitive retiring
nature of delicacy, and very compli-
mentary to the female concerned! G
may have wife who has been in situa-
tons with { peculiarly unlavorable to
the refinement OF dehcacy, may have had
familiar unreserved conversation on the
most delicate sub but if G should
by expressing his disapprobation Of the
character of G. or by any other means Of
fend him, then G will take occasion to
AXE up some accidental rudeness in con-
versaiion in order to found the charge of
blackguardism--the said G having him
self however forfeited all suspicion Of
moral feeling in his own character.
Another artiul mode of giving vent to
SANDER is by assuming the character of
questioner, in which either indifference
or friendship may appear to be the mo-
tive Of asking. !" Have you heard the
story that is in circulation concerning
NJ" No. What is it con they say,
or il is said, that NJ has made over his
property--or is about running away, or
has been engaged in some Infamous af-
fair, &C." Well, that is surprizing but
who told you Oh, its the general talk,
| heard some one at the mill or the mus
ter, &C." Again." Have you heard
that O got drunk the other night, and
played the devil and turned up jack
now for my part l don't believe it, but
they say it is SO, and the people arc talk
ing of it all over the country" Away
runs the receiver of this precious NOR
sci to tell his neighbor the talk ofthe
country for fear he might not have heard