Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-11-06
We and have on The greatest falling.


We and have on the greatest falling
"Ten thousand ore the vehicles In
which the deadly poison Of slandsr Is
prepared and communicated to the
world; and by some ar,ful hands Il is
done by 80 bile and nice On intrusion
that II 10 not TO be tasted or discovered
but by ito effects. How frequently 10 the
honesty or integrity Of q man disposed
Of BY smile or shrug. How many
good, generous actions have been sung
into oblivion by a distrustful look, or
stamped with the imputstion Of proceed.
ing from bad motives by a mysterious
and seusonable whisper. Led into the
company Of these whose gentle natures
should disarm them we shall find little
better account. How large portion Of
chastity 10 sent out Of the world by dis
tinct hints-nodded away and cruelty
winked into suspicion by envy. How
often does the reputation Of q helpless
creature bleed from report-which the
party who 10 at the pains to propagate
it-hopes in God is not true, but 10 the
mean time is resolved to give the report
her pass, etc.
There are some wounds given 10 the
reputation that are like the wounds OF
an envenomed arrow; where we irritate
and enlarge the orifce while we extract
the bsrbed weapon; yet the cure cannot
be completed otherwise.
When man Of distinguished worth
suffers unmerited calumny, It Oft has the
same effect as an eclipse Of the sun;
which serves only to make it admired
the more. While It shines in unrivalled
light and splsndor, it shines unno.iced;
but when il is obscured by some sudden
and unexpected darkness it attracts our
attention and energies with an unusual
and superior eclat.
"ln this age iE some companies there
remains nothing when you have done
with public affairs and public diversions
but private anecdotes-pullins down or
gently undermining characters, setting
in judgment upon those transactions,
which, though Of a private nature, are,
by the newly established custom Of the
times laid before the public-or produ.
cling fresh accounts ofthem from private
hands. hardly ever heard converse.
ton Of this kind carried on for half an
hour, without some Aagrant instance Of
slander and injustice. Il, amazing TO
observe the courage with which upon
mere common report, facts are repeated,
which tend 10 the utter ruin Of q charac.
ter, and even motives confidently assign.
ed, which ii was impossible should be
known:
"yv'icn cruel Slander takes her impious flight,
What mans secure against her balefnl sway;
Virtue herself must sink In shades Of night
And spotless Innocence must fall prey;
With guile elated and malicious leer,
Her neighbours fame she wantonly destroysj
No cruel treatment seems to her severe,
Vile defamation alher time employs
How base the bosom whence vile slanders flow,
There sweet content and dOwny peace ne'cr dwell,
Bnlall 1.-THE pangs Of misery surprise,
Of torment and remorse the dreadful CELL"
"The best dispositions have usually
the most sensibility. They have also
that delicate regard for reputation which
renders them sorely afflicted by the at
tacks Of calumny. Its not an unreas.
enable and excessive self.love, but re.
gard TO that without which feeling
mind cannot be happy, which TENDERS
many ofus attentiveto every word which
is whispered Of US in our absence.
No vi,tue, no prudence, no caution,
no generosity can preserve US from mis-.
representation. Our conduct must be
misunderstood by weak intellects, and by
those who only see a patt oft, and has.
lily form a judgment Of the whole. Eve.
ry man Of eminence has those in his
vicinity who hate, who envy, and who
affect to despise him. These will see
his actions with a jaundiced eye, and
will represent them 10 others in the col.
ors id which they themselves behold
them.
The heaviest misfortune will not
shelter you from censure, when the con.
versation takes turn. Ifyou have los,
your dearest friend We pity you indeed;
but we cannot help observing either tha,
you have very little feeling, and do not
srieve enough, or that you are highly
blameable in feeling too much, and
grieving too violently; or else that there
Is something very ridiculous 10 your
manner Of showing your grief, orin some
circumstance Of your behavior under it.
II you are stripped Of your whole for.
tune, 'tis q terrible thing to be sure, but
|it cannot be dissembled, that your own
imprudencs was, in great measure, the
cause Of it.
Lot the weak and ill.natured enjoy
the poor pleasure Of whispering calami.
ty and destruction and let the man Of
sense display the wisdom and dignity Of
dislsgarding them. The dogs bay the
moon but the moon still shines on in its
beautiful serenity and lustsr. and moves
On in its orbit with undisturbed regu.
larity. ..'.e, s.
"Lst it be our first object to DO ouI
duty, and not be very snxious about any
censurs, but that Of conscience"