Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-02-06

Among the minor offences of which |
those neither generous or refined arc often
guilty, and in the preparation of which
pleasure and satisfaction seems to be enjoy
ed, there is, perhaps, mono moro injurious in
its effect upon society, none more produc-
tive of disgust and discord than the fabri-
eating and relating of gossip and scandal
And in these days. so prolific with reform
and reformers if less attention and interest
was paid to foreign objects of charity and
philanthrophy, and more to the promotion
of good feeling and common honesty at
home, to the publication OF our own atmos-
phere poisoned by the breath of tattlcrs and
scandal mongers, our community might be
elevated to condition more perfect and
satisfactory than ever existed in the imagi-
nation of the most enthusiastic Utopian.-
But it has always been the weakness of
those for whom nature has done but little,
and art still less, and of some for whom ma
ture and opportunities have done much, to
neglect their own affairs, for the purpose of
gratifying a disposition to interfere with and
control the affairs of others.
And when once fairly interested, nothing
is left undono or unsaid which could in any
manner contribute to successful accom-.
plshment of the object in view. Pursuing
every victim with venom in comparison to
which the serpent is harmless, and with q
malignity such as only the prince of ser.
pants could suggest. No gossip is toe
scandalous, and no scandal too disgusting
for them to originate, or repeat, if origina
ting in the black heart of some co-laborel
in the same crusade.
Taking an interest alike in the private
affairs of those to whom they profess to bC
friendly acquaintance, and even strangers
DENYING every thing good, and asserting CIV
j. cry thing evil; msconstruing and mali
: ciously misrcpresentng every careless re
If mark, and fabricating the most contempt
bic aud ridiculous conclusions.
Attacking indiscrimnatcly individuals o
every class and character, sparing ncithe
p the good or the base male or female, an
even dragging into unenviable notort
/! those of the latter, who by every human
/ consideration are entitled to sympathy an
t. kindness.
u Now retailing from door to door suspi
! ions of that ones general character, and no
whispering confdcntially doubts us to Il
~ purity of that mans motives or this W
in mans virtue; and thus by a studied cour
of misrepresentation and fabrication makir
acquaintance hostile to each other, alien
ting friends from each other, and even SOY
a' ing the seeds of discord around the fir
Il, side of families.
st Arrogantly claiming the rights and po'
C. er to control the thoughts and feelings
20 others, and to defame generally whoev
- prcsumes to think, speak and act indepen
'd emily of others dictation, they strive to st
C. pass each other in the lowness of though
and meauness of words.
We have jails and prisons in which
t. confno and punish those convicted
no crimes; let us by common consent or leg
ot ative enactment, elevate tt the dignity o
tcrime these outrages upon common decenC
'N and punish as other offenders are punish
rs these fabricators and retailers of gossip a
nd scandal. Such a course might occasi
Co. more or less inconvenience in families,
;s reason of the father, mother, or daughtt
= being absent from home occasionally; |
VI the community could endure such abser
or departure with the same resignation Il
in it would of a pesthouse invalid.
OBSERVER.