Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1856-02-09
CALUMNY.-
Be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as show,
Yet shall thou not 'scape calumny."

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No writer ever exhibited better knowledge
of the most intricate windings of the human
heart than did shakspear, and never did any
aphorism uttered by him. embody greater tru-
ism than the which is prefxed to this para
graph However guarded our conduct may be
however pure our Observation-Disclosures qui
ct and prudent our manner-the prying eye of
envy will yet find some little cervice into which
it may peep to spy out our defects. Not unfre-
quently, too, do we imbibe prejudices against
perons we have never seen, from some sighting
remark dropped in our presence respecting them.
How much-it has been observed by writer
may be conveyed in tone of the voice, at a
shrug of the shoulder, and yet not one word be
said that can really be termed slanderouss We
often meet in society, persons who seemed to
enjoy petty malicious pleasure in seeking for
and relating anything they may gather, that will
prove injurious in its tendency to the character
of their acquaintance.
Cotton tells US that the Greeks displayed their
appreciation of the word sIanderer by making
it the synonyme of devil, and truly they were
not Mt fault. What can be more demoniacal
than traducing those whose uustained reputation
is to them more than untold gold.
There are none who have not at some time
during their life, felt the baleful effects of the
slanderous tongue-who have not writhed in
secret under the lash of malice. Then why not,
when we feel disposed to make an uncharitable
remark, reflect for one moment upon the torture
we have ourselves endured, and '' bride the IN
ruly member"-the tongue. How can We in
fct upon another that anguish we have our
selves suffered, which we know from experience
is more Tartarean than the punishment inflicted
upon Prometheus.
We tnld ms croI urif hat saha rffy
ereth multitude of faults" and the charity
meant is not almsgving, but charity of thought
towards our brothers failings. What though
our ueighbor has his little pecadilloes, will Sc
we're remarks correct them? Not at ALTAR
more apt to continue them. When we feel in
clined to criticise upon others, should we not
first examine if we are not guilty Of far more
serious offences. May we not have g beam in
our own eye at the very time we discover the
mote in our brothers
A MICHIGAN LEGIsLAroR.-A friend told us
recently that our anecdotes Of the Legislator
who wanted the Constitution to run through his
farm. and of his worthy brother who did not
think his constituents had any sense, reminded
him Of the freaks of distinguished Michigan
State Senator, who, in his day, was the unfail
ing source Of half the fun at the Capitol. Upon
one occasion, while some resolutions were under
discussion which involved an Endorsement Of the
action of the Michigan delegation in Congress
upon the tariff question, this gentleman sprung
to his feet, exclaiming:
s.Mr President II do not care curse about
this pIaguy tariff; but I'm afraid that the Wings
will get branch of the id thing in this
State.''
The same gentleman was at another time
Ia fho of md Of
political opponent, who. in long and personal
speech against him in the Senate Chamber, &C
cused him, among other things, Of having stol-
en- the livery of heaven to serve the devil in.
Our friend rose to reply, violently agitated and
trembling with indignation. He said:
Mr.. President This is the first time in
all my life that was accused Of stealing. My
opponent says I have stolen the Library of
Heaven! Mr.. President, in the most solemn
manner, allow me to assure you that l did not
know that there was such book in print"
He was originally from New Jersey, and was
very fond Of clarifying that State. Upon these
occasions he always commenced Us follows:
Mr.. President, the great State Of New Jer-
sey, which State had the honor to leaue," &c.
These are pretty hard to beat, but we can
still cap the climax by leaf from our Hoosier
"reminiscences. It is what we remember Of a
speech we once heard delivered by a candidate
for County Clerk. He began:
stFeller Citizens was borne in glorious old
Knox, but was fetched up in Sullivan, and had
it not been for the goodness OF Providence and
some other gentleman, I mout have been as
big darned fool as any on you. But | have
learned fust rate edication, and will make as
good Clerk, if elected, as Squire Law would
be. hold in my hand an American half eagle.
Upon one side are inscribed the Goddess Of Lib
erty, with 'er cap upon bean pole: upon the
other is an eagle, bearing in his mouth q motto
-" E Pluribus Unum, '-signifying plurality
of unicorns, and if you will step over to Phil.
Haynes grocery we will spend it for liquor.
He was not elected Chicago Tribune.