The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-05-12
GbQire Reaninq.
From the Ladies' Repository.
General Obligations to Others,
BY rHRACE TALMoy.


There are certain obligations which we
owe to others, that are tactly implied
rather than publicly enforced Without
observing these we can exist; but we can.
not tulGll our highest duties to society OF
responsibilities to God.
l. II is our duty to freely accord JUS
tice to others in expressed opinions. This
duty is almost universally neglected by
reason of spirit Of detraction. A phil
oIogist has defined this to be the act Of
taking something from the reputation OF
another, with the view to lessen that 9th
er in estimation Detraction may con
sist in representing merit as less Than it
really is; or in the imputatIon of faults.
vices, or crimes, which impair reputation -
To this ignoble fault our sex are es-
peciaIly prone. Has one lady the repu,
tation of agreeable manners-~her lady
acquaintance comments, Indeed I think
her apiomG tiresome; or, "She is too
brusque :" or, She affects uaieete." "
"A pleasant family is that observes
one.
20! but t1ey have such scenes behind
the curtain Mrs.-is Xantippe,
or, "Mr.-is perfect tyrant," is the
quick rcjoinder.
'What a manager is such lady!
" Do you think so! y fuss, reckon
"That young lady is fine scholar
"She may well be fine with all her al
yantages !" or it is, "She would not APP
pear quite so smart if nobody helped her "
How beautiful is that lady"
But she knows it, and that spoils her
looks" Or, "Her style is not to my taste.
She is too petite" or, "She has too much
embonpoint." Again: some feature slight
ly subject to unfayo able criticism, is
seized aud united with a ludicrously-sar-
castle comment rA ..E
- Mrs.---is a very good entertainer "
"Passable in her way. She has i'm
proved very much by late surrounding
circumstances If you knew from what
obscuritv she has risen!" re- .a
Mr-appears very devout."
"Doubtless. But between us"-here
the detracting friend draws into the clos
est confidential position and whispers with
dark look of signifcance-fa wolf in
sleeps clothing" a.ur a
"No! it is Mt possible "
"But it is, and quite demonstrable; "
then a long coored account Of some tri-
fling act in itself, is narrated with the
strictest Injunction of secrecy, closing
with this Tartarean expression, "I have
heard other things which am not at lib
erty to tell
" How pleasantly those people are sit
uated!"
Selfmade. I have seen him and her
in the lowest walks of life. The time was
when some most disgusting piece
of intelligence is appended.
'That lady is very benevolent"
"Before the gaze of the public; but in
private she is perfect n.iser."
Lady authors are favorite commodity
of these feminine detraction- mongcrs.
Whatever can be found or surmised against
them IS an especlal Don oO1ete. poiiie
people are so unconscious of the obllga-
tions which they owe to others, that they
are unwilling that any one around them
should have the credit of any thing but
themselves. Even the praises OF one OF
their servants annoy them. They will be
10th to admit that another person is sui
feriug FROM illness, lest they should re-
ceive compassion and interest from 9th
ers The spectacle of one person extend
ing cordial greeting to another excltes
their selishness in detracting animadver-
sions.
Spenser describes one of these persons
thus:
And if she hapt of any good to heare,