Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-07-19
Communicated.
EDITOR CHRONICLE:

OdhONlCGE
Dear Sir: am in doubt, Mr.. Editor,
whether or not to give you an account of a
conversation which my friend Melinda was
obliged to overhear between two notorious
sossips Of the town on q recent occasion.
Melinda is we'll known as @ sprightly,
good-natured young lady, strictly incapable
Of acting in the role of eaves-dropper, and as
being herself quite untouched by the small
but pernicious jealousies Of society. The
mere fact that by reason Of its time, place,
and utterance, Melinda was compelled
listener to the conversation referred to, is
only one of many instances of that reck-
less disregard of the plainest :proprieties
with which certain people indulge them
selves in the most extravagant ISLANDERS.
You are aware, Mr.. Editor, that it is the
misfortune or weakness of our sex, from
which the best and strongest minded are.
not exempt, that we cannot live without a
confdent-another self-to whom we may
Immediately and at all times hasten for
counsel and syl pathy, and with whom we
share. our secret thoughts. Such. are the
relations which Melinda and I mutually
sustain to each other. For my own part,
being by nature designed as a homekeep-
ing old maid, of homely wits, have long
ago withdrawn myself from much active
in current social events. |
neither dance nor play cards, and am there
for set down as cyphcr by the party 60
ing and party-making public. I do not
run about among my neighbors' houses
gathering and conveying "meaos," and am
considered generally disqualified for hold
ing any position in society. This retire
ment, which I fear would be forced if it
were not voluntary, the better enables me
to fairly estimate the follies, not to say the
vices, of the village; and from the little
even that can learn, think it has long
been necessary that corrective should be
applied. With all due respect to the min
listers, and due Difference to their own opin-
ions of what is needed for purifying our
manners and morals, it seems to me that
they might proftably preach sermon or
two, at least, against the sin Of scandal
mongcring. Does it belong to your prov
ince, Mr.. Editor, to expose and punish these
pests of society, or to remark .on that de-
moralizcd social condition of society which
can tolerate and even encourage them
Will you believe it, siT,--it is said that in
some quarters they season their talk SO
highly, that when their neighoors' affairs
have become stale from too much repetition
they even ventilate and publicly circulate
the privacies of their own families? Such
in part was the conversation which my
friend Melinda overheard Perhaps the
majority of your readers have ventured a
guess who the two gossips were that were
so engaged, and some of them [ do not
doubt, rightly. shall not at present fur
ther allude to the conversation in question,
but will wait, hoping that others, better ad-
vised, and more capable, may undertake
the correction of our manners in this vii
lage. If should be induced to coach
another lance against the tale-tellers, /
shall particularly delight to challenge some
of the men. Melinda promises to do her
devoir as faithful squire.
Yours, in behalf of truth, sclfrespect,
and common dscency,
II JULIA.