The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-02-11
Communicated,

Mr.. EDITOR. SO much has IeA written
on this hackneyIed theme and SC. many admo-
nitions given to he5oung in regard to AS
persing the characterised their associates by
insinuations and significant gestures, that !
fear any thing might say will fail on I'M
willing ears, and accomplish little or no
good but proceeding upon the principle that
even blind hog can sometimes find an
acorn, I will scatter the chaff profusely, hop
ing that few grains of wheat may be picked
up by some of the multitude who may come
under the category Of slanderers. And
Just here the words of the immortal bard of
England come up before my mind when LIE
said, in substance, che who steals my purse,
steals trash, but he that filches from me my
good namelakes that which enriches not him,
but makes me poor indeed, and unfortunate
ly for the peace and well-being Of society,
these classes of persons arc quite numerous,
and may be seen in the higher ranks of So
cety as we'll as In the humber walks Of life,
and even among those who make loud pro-
fessions of piety. ~.
The slanderer will extend to you the hand
Of friendship while at the same time with
poisonous breath and blasphemous tongue,
he secretly strives to blight the reputation
and sinf his victim into the deepest depths
Of 'iHefamy. There are degrees and gradations
Of guilt in this as in all other sins There
are some who can make most hcllish meals
of good mems names" without the least re-
morse of Conscience Others, again, will de-
fame and asperse the reputation by base in
situations and Significant gestures, and soothe
their consclences with herefeetion that they
have not exposed to the eyes of the world
the faults and shortcomings Of their neigh
bors ). in fact they will take credit unto them
selves that they have dealt leniently towards
their fellow men. On all hands you will
hear the hypocritfcal expressions Of sympa-
thy for one who has been crushed to the earth
by misfortuncs and Affections; but let him
rise superior to his misfortunes and once
more be waited onward by prosperous gales,
and you will. hear the traducing tongue Of the
'enYious, twin, sister of the slandcrer who
will be scrupulously careful not to permit
/ fault Or weakness of his neighbor to 60 I'M
noticed. Her watchful eye will not permit
even. the smallest spot on the robe of virtue
to escape the attentions Of others.
This shy and skulking mode Of injuring
any ones character, and poisoning the minds
Of his friends and associates by significant ex-
prcssions, is really contemplate, and ought
to be severely punished by the excavations of
all good men and lovers Of peace and harmo-
ny. 1Slanderers are generally towards, and
never attack their enemy openly, giving him
chance to defend his character and posi-
ton, but go about filing the mind with vague
suspicious and doubts, leaving you suppose
anything that may suit the bias Of your mind.
The innocent and the virtuous, in this way,
are often made to suffer unjustly. Therefore,
let me raise the voice Of warning against this
stealthy mode of dealing with the fair fame
of your neighbors, and when you hear
! whispers Of suspicious nature against your
fellow men floating on the passing breeze, do
not send them on with increased velocity,
but at once put on the breaks by pronouncing
them false, and you can retire to your virtu-
Gus couch and sleep the sleep that the limo
cent alone can enjoy.
JCNiUs.