The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-11-25
PORTSMOUTH ErTERaRY SOCIETY
fuApirs' DrrAwrsEss.l
SCANDAL.

tuk suto co~eys -, " xS~ss~ y" wv "sss'~e -
the female portion Of this society Z jus,
sbhorrence of Scandal. From the easliesi
ages our sox have been charged with being
the manufacturers and the retailers ofslan'
der; aud although mosslisss and philsnshro-
risis. ancient and modern, hate made il
the subject Of apprehension. s,ill Il is the
pfevsiliag vice of the present time. This
vice 10 most iestructise TO the chsrseses
and happiness sf females; yet fematss TOO
willingly listen 10 the inventions ofaa!ice;
too readily give credit and currency 10
tales Of scandal. Where is the female
whose ears have not been filed with this
poison? Where is the female who has
not bees the dupc or the victim Of the alan
derer7 ofths female slandersr Dslicste
ly sensitive ss we are when ourselves are
selected as marks for the arrows 0fmslice
o. envy |; we are not 20 when those shafts
are aimed at our scqusin,ance. We sb-
hor scandal, when accounts Of its dsslruc.
tive power reach Us through the medium
Of a novel or newspaper, and that abhor
renee satisfies our conscienccs, oar semi
bilities-thst a spo,less rcputatiou 10 duly
estimsted: and the Indignation cxritsd ~
the aovslist when he makes HE fctiiioas
heroine the victim Of scandal, csuvincss "
that we sufficiently detest the ealumnistoF
But when the victim Is our neighbof, ssso.
ciate, friend We do not stop our ear we
do not require the proofs that could only
convince us in ordinary matters. We do
not dash tho cup Of poison from us, WITH
indignation. On the contrary We too es-
gerly swallow its dcletcrious contents even
TO the drcgs. And al the sans time that
We doplore the evil We increase its msghi.
tude, and it's maligni'y, BY becoming The
vehicles that spread il; solacing ourselves
with the frsil excuse, iha. if the injurious
reports are false, we did not fatrirate them.
Relieving that we are not suillcienlly
guarded against this destroyer il the oss}
apology ! esn uiirr sor making THE fesSse
effort to cxpose its enormity to excite .
dread cf its contsmina,ing influence and
to hold the calumnia,or up To deserved ex-
ecration. Deprive female Of her good
name, all else that is left except her limo
cencc is trash indeed. All tho earthly hap
piness, al the confidence We enjoy, 10 bss.
cd on the consciousness Of good repu,s-
iion. II "is the immediate jewel Of our
lives" Yet this confidence, this happiness.
this precious jewel, We hold a, the mercy
ofthc slsndcrer. Are VIC toymed to please !?
To add felicity TO the social circle ? Is ar
lection increased, ondsared by our excr
tions? Ia from us the tears Of sympathy
flow for the unfortunate, the tender aud
the faithful? Let slander rear i,s hydra
head, and our tesrs no longer dow the
pangs Of wounded innocence are Disregard
ed; " friends are estrsngcd" !. there are
none to pity, TO console. to bind up the sf
flic,ed heart. The most innocent sections
are viewed in q wrong light; words are
misconstrued; looks are interpreted; 'ho'''
arc guessed at and acted upon, rs IL those
thoughts were facts, until the web of mis-
chief and misery is complete.
Nor can innocence afford projections
gsinst the assaults Of eslumny. Perhaps
unsuspecting innocence, in happy, cheer
ful female moro readily exci,es the rspac,
i,y efthese vsmpyrcs. Ohen are the cheer.
ful conversations, and the anhcsitaiing re.
plies of artless innocence tortured into
themes for scandal Nor ean the conscious
ness Of rcctitude in oil her past conduct
soo,hs the sgonized feelings of the limo
cent victim. Perhaps she more kecnly SUI
fers ss the charges are untrue and unpro
voked. Again ask, who have not suffer.
ed I? and if have exaggerated nothing, il
10 our imperious duty to unite in crushing
this evil by every honorable exertion.
Il sometimes happens, ihsi tales Of see"
dsl originate with the young and thought
less perhaps to crafty the vanity Of The
listener, or with the hope Of obtaining con.
hdcnce or ffisndship BY such mean
Dreadful delusion Cor worthless indeed is
the friendship that cen be thus purchssss
Parents and friends might check this very
erroneous conduct BY few plain precept,
and thereby save the reputation and The
happiness OF tn misguided person Bu'
there are others " maturer sgs, whom nc
precepu or experience can divert from the
puuuis Of mischief. who roll slsnder IN
der their tongues % sweet messsr'; who
Geek confidence to bctrsy il; whose. friend
hip and whose hatred ere equally drssd