Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-04-29
GOSsIPPING.

GOssIPPING.
The following is exquisite-alas that it should
be for its ruth. We publish it in the hope that 1t
may reach some who guilty perhaps from mere
thoughtlessness, of the odous practice there set
forth. The mirror thus held up with such excel
lent tact, must reflect TOO detestible picture to
be endured for q moment. 1t is copied from
late work by Miss Sedgwick, called Means and
Ends-from the section i" On Conversation"
GossrpPINo-The most prevailing fault of con-
versation in our country, and, l believe, in all
social communities, is gossipping. AS weeds
most infest the richest soils, so gossipping most
abounds amidst the social virtues in small towns,
where there is the most extended mutual acquain-
lance, where persons live in the closest relations
resembling lar4 e family circle. To disturb the
sweet uses ofthe little communities by gossipping
is surely to forfeit the benefit of one of the kind
est arrangements of Providence.
In great and busy cities, where people live in
total ignorance of their neighbors, where they
cannot know how they live, and hardly know
when they die, there is neighborhood, and there
is gossipping. But need there be this poison
Gus weed among the howers-this blight upon the
fruit, my young friends'
You may understand better precisely what
comes under the head of gossipping, if give you
some examples of it.
In certain small thickly-settled town there
lives family, consisting of man, his wife, and
his wife sister. He has little shop, it may be
jewellers, sadder's, shoemaker's or what we
call a store-no matter which, since he earns
enough to live most comfortably, with the help
of his wife and sister, who noted for their in
dustry and economy. One would think they had
nothing to do but enjoy their own comforts, and
aid and pity those less favored than themselves.
But instead of all this, they volunteer to super
wise all the SINS folies and shortcomings of their
neighbors The husband is not silent partner.
He does his full share of the low work of this
gossipping trio. Go to see them when you will,
you may hear the last news of every family with
in half mile. For example as follows:
."Mr. -- gave $50 dollars for his new wag-
on, and he had no need of one; the old one
has not than two years.
g Mrs. --- has got new hired help; but
she wont stay long; it's come and 60 there
=" Mrs. - had another new gown at meet
ing yesterday, which makes the fifth in less than
year and every one of her girls had new rbbands
on their bonnets; it is good thing to have rich
friends, but for my part had rather wear my old
ribbands."
There goes Sam Bliss's people with barrel
of -four; it but yesterday she was at the
Judge begging
C None of the widow Days girls were at meet
ing, bat they can walk out as soon the sun is
down.
This is but specimen of the talk of these I'M
fortunate people who seemed TO have turned their
homes into a common sewer through which all the
sins and foibles of the neghborhood run. Yes,
but their minds have to waste, and there is
some faint, fear at their hearts
The noted gossip, Miss --,makes visit in
town where she had previously been stranger.
She divides her time among several families She
is social, and what we think is miscalled, agreea-
Bile for she is perpetuaIly talking of persons and
things. She wins a too easy confidence, and she
returns home with an infinite store offamily anec-
dotes. She knous that Mr.. and Mrs. So and So
who are supposed to live happiy,are really on bad
terms, and that he broke the hearts of two other
women before he married his wife she knows
the particulars, but she has promised not to tell.
She has found out that a certain family, who for
ten years have been supposed to live harmonious
ly with step-mother ARE really eminenty wretch
ed She heard that Mr.. -, who apparently
is in very furnishing circumstances, has been on
the brink of bankruptcy for the last ten years'@c.
Could this woman find nothing IN vlsting a
new scene to excite her mind but such truInpery!
We have given you this example to show you that
the sin of gossipping pervades some communities
This woman did not create the stories. She heard
them all, the individuals who told them to her,
little thinking that they in turn would become
the subjects of familiar remark to the very per-
sons whose affairs they were communicating.