Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1860-02-11


should still allow it to be discussed, thougl
to fcur-6fths of the people the discussion
might be bore. On the whole, doub
whether there is any part OF the conntr!
where any subject creates less eXctemen
among the great body Of the people thai
here; and it is just because all men, lnclud
ing fanatics and mad men, enjoy free speech
Nor do we believe that free speech wonlC
tend in the least degree to excite lnsurrec
tion az the South. Our belief is that free
dom of opinion 10 kept under lawless re
straint there for different reason"
WHERE ALL THE SCANDAL CONES FRoM.-
There's the question. Every one must ac
knowledge that there is an immense guam
tity of the article in question already to be
met with in the social market, and that the
demand for more is steadily increasing
but where it all comes from, and from what
port, and under what captain the new in
voice is expected to arrive, remains mys-
terry. People, as general thing do not
betray their own secrets. 1t is not likely
that Mr.. A. would inform his friends that
his rent is still unpaid that Mr.. b. would
publish to the world the fact that he has
taken an unfair advantage OF Mr.. Y: that
Mrs G. would publicly notify her neigh
bors that she has been flirting scandalously
with Mr. p. and that Mr. G has become
II second Othello in consequence. Yet the
very things people would, if possible con-
ceaI, seem inevitably to leak out, in the
most mysterious manner. And it, by
chance, any individual has nothing which
he would wish to hide, some story is forth
with invented for his benefit, which, being
cut out Of whole cloth, is probably ten
times more horrible than if it had been
founded on fact. But who circulates these
reports, or who invented these stories, no
one ever knows.
Your neighbor, Mrs. Twiggs who has
the whole of that unpleasant story about
Jenkins by heart, does not vouch for il on
the evidence Of her own senses-althongh
she rehearses the "Says he's" and "says
she's" with snch exactitnde-she had it
from Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Smith had it from
Mrs. Brown, and Mrs. Brown had it from
Mrs. Someone-else but who absolutely
heard the words, or witnessed the actions,
it is impossible to discover, The old game
of "Hunt the Slipper" was nothing to the
modern game of Scandal" The holder
of the shoe might, by perseverance, be dis
covered but the possesSor of the little
foundation Of truth or fancy which has
been passed silly from hand to hand with
such perseverance, is forever anonymous.
1t has been the custom, from time i'm
memorial, to lay all the scandal on the
shoulders of the softer sex. Women and
Slander, gossip and tea, peach preserves
& impeached characters are swords intimate
ly associated with each other aud the
gentlemen, bless their innocent souls are
never suspected for moment. They stand
aloof, with complacent smiles, and iusinu-
ate a depth of ignorance upon every scan
delous tt-bit presented for the general dis
cussion, which is, to say the least suspici-
Gus. | must confess, as friend to the diff
fusion of truth, that in those discoveries
which are made by listening at crevices in
the wall, peeping through key-holes, and
hiding behind folding DOORS women are by
far the most sklIful Likewise yon NAV
be assured that when it is known that Mr.
OhlhlllHh 10 hOO q EOOu DiONiutT, ludL
Mrs WigginS has turned her old silk, and
dyed her French merino and that the par
lor carpet of the ClumpinscS came from
auction, woman has been foremost in
making the important discovery. But, dis
cerning reader, when the topic is of gra-
yer nature-when it dips into character,
and violently assails reputation, depend up
on it that more vigorous hand is guiding
the wires secretly that man is at the
bottom of it.
Ppkins, Podgers, and Pringle belong to
a club. They are sworn friends. The two
who can retain a perpendicular position
the longest, upon conviVial club nj ghts
unite in assisting the one who is overcome
by the strength of the crackers and lob
ster salad to his domicile, and with frater-
nal kindness fit his lalch-key into the key
hole and bolster him up in the corner be-
tween the table and the hat-rack. 1t is
Pringles turn to be thus attended one night.
Pipkius aud Podgers, both married men,
assist their bachelor friend to his boarding
house, see him put to bed, aud part with
very knowing wlnks and glances, as they
dverge into their respective streets. The
next day, Mrs Pipkns and Mrs. Podgers
have discovered in some mysterious man
ner that Mr., Pringle is possessed of the
of Mrs. Phlyaway, and
wears it in the recesses of his vest pocket.
The report spreads like wild-6re. 1t is en-
belished, illustrated, and improved upon.
Mr.. Phlyaway becomes cognizant thereof,
Mr., Prngle to mortal combat.
A duel ensues, in which one of the gentle,
men has four of his false teeth broken, and
the other loses the best part of his new
wig. Applications for divorce and a law
suit of great length wind up the whole af.
fair, and the papers of the day revel in
perfect chaos of disgusting particulars.