The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1859-11-02
correspondence OF the TIMES.
OAK GLEN, Iowa, Oct: I

oAA VLEN, IOWA, OCt. o4ul, %.
Friend Times:-I know not how IL Is with
yourself and others, but for one, can truly
say, that of all persons would like to
avoid coming in contact with. is the gossip
er or slanderer. What untold mischief is
caused to families and neighborhoods BY
cowardly people, who skulk behind ~
reckon" or 'they say" while they protrudc
their venomed tongues, covered with TIE
venom of asps! How arc whole commuhi;
ties often kept in a state Of constant and
feverish excitement by those whose tongues
should blister with their utterances! There
are certain class Of people whose only OBJ
jcct in life seems to be to defame and injure
those around them. They are generally
persons Of small mind and low origin; who
seek to drag others down because their owH
merits will not suffice to give them credi-
bic position in society.
They rcsurrect all tho old stories of fam;
lily shortcoming, Of what was once "said,"
and sad array is thrown into the teeth Of
some excellent man or woman, as old sins
which they are expected to bear. In con-
sequence, the whole ncighborhood is busy
with the old and usually false tales of stahHal
and gossip, af1d the tale-bcarer has the sat
isfaction of seeing really worthy people in
much trouble and pain from the unexpcct-
ed imputation made against tbcM.
But here is the mystery; these very tale
reputation, their families were of the mos
''scaly" kind of people, and lived such Il
life as does not usually look well in print
and why person Of such descent should
indirectly excite attention to their own a.
fairs and their not forgotten past, by their
revival Of ancient scandal, is, it strikes us,
puzzling to tell. 1t has served to quickeli
our suspicious that all scandal al-mongers have
family cscutchcon not particularly pure,
and we have come to the conclusion that he
or she whose tongue is busy with reputa-
tons and family happiness, is just the per-
son whose past ought to be shrouded in
darkness.
Slanderous reports generally have an air
of truth about them, which make thcm
more prejudicial and hurtful than if they
were in their own native garb. They seem
ashamed of themselves. If they can steal
the livery Of truth, they hold up their heads
and arc sure of passing. Were every Sian:
derous report branded with its own name.
and called, as it should be, lie, the evil
done would be less. But going forth with
the semblance of probability, under more
specious garb than that of the direct and
downright falsehood, the injury is often
greater even than that intended by the Sian:
derer. Hence, only aggravated guilt
Persons cannot be too cautious how little
they say which Is true against others
Much less can they be too cautious how lit
tie they say which is positively false
The practice Of reporting whatever one
hears, adding perhaps, gloss of ones own,
repbrting, it not upon the ehouse-top-might
as well-bit in the ears Of others; until it
becomes a common topic of CONVERSATIONS.
what can be more contemplate or base! II
this should become general no one would
be safe. All would turn spies and scandal
mongers. No one would be safe, because
no ones character will bear all kinds of ex.
posurc.
Many story is told with rueful coun.
tenance, and protestations Of sorrow for the
occurrence, when the teller is secretly ex-
ulting in the injury it will do. Who love to
hear themselves speak in this way, will
sometime have cause to regret their loquac.
ity. Who love to speak lies may expect to-
gather fruit accordingly. NELL: