Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-12-28
ICOMMuNICAlED.
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The MeddIer--BY i. Il. JOHNSON.


A prurieot curiosity concerning the affairs
of others is go characteristic Of some per-
sons, that We are lead to believe it is 10
trinsically part Of their nature, and that
to resist the temptation to interfere ohcious-
~ with the peculiar business Of their neigh.
bors, is the most difficult task OF their lives.
Why it is 80 we cannot tell, but certainly
there arc some individuals so passionately
intent upon knowing the private concerns Of
their acquaintances, that they apparently
could not, to save their own fortunes from
destruction, stay their extreme longing for
an opportunity to offer their gratuitous ad
vice and unasked aid. 1t is, indeed, mat
ter of wonder to think how far such persons
will 60 to appease their curiosity, and graft.
fy the morbid craving of diseased habit
which can beget bothing but trouble to it's
possessor, and dissension to those who are
brought within the sphere of its influence
These plaques of society are not few, and
one or two of them busily engaged in the
dissemination of the malicious tales original
Jog in the peccant investigation of their
neig hbors movements do more harm, in the
course Of their lives, than visit of epidemic
Cholera. True, they do not directly kill
any one, but having their .territy eyes coz
stanty employed in scrutinizing the demea-
nor OF others, and their asp.like tongues &C
lively engaged 10 heraldiDg the really limo.
cent acts of virtue, they despOil many
bright prospect, and sully many fair name
1t is thus, too frequently, that business 10
tercourse is severed, and the earliest ties of
friendship are broken, to give place to a ran.
corous discord, which torments the heart.
and fills the mind with disappointment
whose very memory, ever afterwards, trets
the soul with many regretful thoughts. |
have seen injured Innocence made to weep,
| and known a whole community to be driven
to CONSERVATION by the feuds produced by
wanton of6cousness for whea slanderous
| tales are started on the public tongue they
do not lose sentence, but increase rapidly,
aad are rashly detailed Is o severe verdict
from which a wronged name has no appeal
but the consciousness of the rectituie Of its
own course.
No habit renders an individual more des-
picable, or causes him to receive less sym.
patty when misfortune befalls him, than
that OF insermeddling with the business OF
others; for when the character of such q
person becomes fully known, we find that be
is as much Stunned as the most dreadful dis
ease. Charity may sometimes throw her
gracious mantle over his defects, and endea.
vor to hush the complainings of contempt;
but even she, after awhile, sbrinks deiled
from his touch, and is forced u regard his
tongue as moro dangerous than the yiper's
sting; for while with seeming sincerity be
assumes to have the welfare Of his acquain-
tances at heart, be never fails to lend 90
eager ear to every idle report concerning
them, aud with mock pity 10 his tone, u
magnify the slightest misdemeanor into
heinous crime. Hiding the disgusting pro
portions OF his designs by the varied garb
of deception, he gains temporary confidence,
aud with the jusidious show Of partial con
Germ becomes familiar with his neighbors'
sraDsaciions and grows exceedingly impa
tient until he has relieved his taxed habit OF
its burden by making them known 70 every
member OF the circle Of bis acquaintance
If any one should have business with bin,
the world ID sure to know it; for, to illus
trate bis own superiority, be makes the most
minute detail, and proc!alms with what ga
gaoity sod prudence lie conducted 10 the
transaction. Combining the traits of the
slanderer with those Of the sneak, be is as
unreliable In one situation Of life, as he il
trescherous 10 another, and is always the
same perfdous Icing. acting the most willy
sycoohsnt 10 counting the favor of those who
are in prosperity, and when brought in con
tact With those whom adversely has BUNDLED,
showing himself the most unieeing oppres-
sor: being ever the first TO vend some ipjuri-
Gus report TO reflect discredit upon those
honest efforts which the unfortunate may
make to restore their former position. Con
strained to maiotain bis place by duplicty,
he descends to petty means to gain the good
opinion of one man and to restrain the ex-
preston Of the adherence of another; ami
gosded by the embarrassment in which his
vice involves him, and stimulated by teal
ousy, he boasts vainly OF the prete ded good
be has done, without once limiting at the long
list OF treacherous acts which repudiste his
claim, and brand his declaration with the
leprous seal Of falsehood
While 80 assidnously engaged in CRITICS.
log and arranging the affairs Of others, the
Meddler must necessarily neglect his own
business, or what should be his employment;
and soon fnds himself entsDgled in pecu-
Diary difficulties and social depravity, which
added to the obvious contempt of all whose
good opinions are desirable, only serves to
render him more madly envouS; and lash
ing himself with the consciousness Of tho
well-deserved retribution that racks bis life,
be dies de!ested, and bis very grave is look,
ed upon with contemptuous regret, that such
q being should have lived, and shed nought
but baleful influence on all tina, he az
preached; for surely We know of no position
which is fraught with more unpleasantness
or marked by more Improbable labor, than
that Of the man who thus proves himself
traitor to all the noble impulses and charac-
teristics of his race.
Alexandra, December o. 1858.
OFFICE EXCHANGE BANK oF VIRGINIA
ALEXANDRIA, December q, 1915