New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-15
Written for the New Orleans Republican.
SxA NDEK

Surgery may heal bodily wound; bu
what balm can bind up the bite of elan
derous tongue? Robbery may be recon-
pensed by restitution; but how can 20
ever make amends to the man or woma
you have traduced? think, truly, that no
all the wealth of the world can wipe out tn
stain caused by slanderer's evil tongue
Many pure heart has been wrecked, man,
good name lost beyond recall, the frs
misstep, caused by the shaft Of SANDER
pointed with unerriDg aim, turning all 10,
and happiness into gall and bitterness. 4
word, one simple word; yet think of it. II
is but a breath; it has no form; its type il
only on the printed page; it has {
birth, but no death. Once launched from
its venomous source, it can not be recalled
It may take but two letters to embody it,
but there is no power by which it may be
destroyed. It may take but single aspira.
ton to utter it, but that aspiration may
prove the death.warrant of a pure, loyal
heart. How often we hear evil words and
destinations uttered by rosy lips, in swee.
soft voice, yet hurled with stunning force
against the heart of her rival. In many
cases it is passed by, and attributed to
Jealousy Of her influence, or envy, caused
by her beauty, and as she can not slay her
rival in open combat. by SANDER she seeks
to mark Ter ruin. But for a man
a man, did l say? Who ever heard
of man slandering his neighbor.
No, 1t is vile serpent. who assumes the
form and dress Of man. He does not point
his poisonous arrows at one of his own sex
(fOr the man-slanderer is ever q coward,
for he fears he might receive from the
strong arm of a man the punishment he so
richly deserves. But. ali see him point,
with his dishonest finger, to the form of an
unprotected woman; hear his blasphemous
tongue giving emphasis to his vile asser.
tons. He is secure, for she has not the
hand and power to crush the fslsehoods at
their utterance. l have neighbor, one
among a thousand Of such men who daily
crowd our streets, his favorite resorts On st.
Charles street being closed against him; he
scorns honorable employment, he harbors
q scorpion within his breast and calls it his
ueaIL, u we chemist, forever seeking q
bane; bending over the alembic of malice,
stirring up hatred and strife, till he makes
up one huge dish of passion, in which he
sleeps the better qualities till they are BIT
ter and cruel as the grave. He grinds his
teeth with malice and hate, when beauty |
holds her heart above his reach. Then 10 |
his tongue, sharpened with the venom of |
SANDER and heated with malice against a |
he sets fire to her pure name, con.
suming her peace and happiness with SIAN
aerous reports, hot as burning Goals is "set
On fire of he'll" There are none of us
entirely free from this great evil.
md many have whispered hint
born of our own jealousy tina. all our tears
ian never blot out, all our repentance never
'ecall. When allowed to dwell in your
hearts, this evil is miserable tenant: it
lisfgures your house and dispels the pnre
Warn it out and cleanse your
lark rooms with regretful tears.
Would it not be well for slanderers to
hink occasionally that "for every word that
nan speaks, God shall bring him to iudg-
npDt1 |