Middletown transcript., 1871-02-25
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individua s aud communities 70 indnled
in slandrtous gass;p. Il, perhaps, the best
evidence that could be offered IN favor of
the docsripc Of total depravisy- Ths ornt-
ification of this propensity seems 70 be n.
kin in its brutality to the pleasing excite
mcnt exhibited by some on hcaribs Of a
sudden and great destruction of human
life. Various small communities, rcsnoved
from tho more crowded ccutres. fors the
want Of other exci,cunepis, are wont n fall
back on native depravity. aud rcrolvc
thcmsclve+ into societies Tor the mutual
defamation of charncter Aaoag tlcm-
selves no harm comparatiscly 10 done. As
all enjoy aud suffer alike. Bat woe to
tho Innocent victim who BY chance may
for time scjourn among them. Al es-
iimsblc lsdy visited community of This
kind. Az QUE Of their social gatliesings
for time sho listened 10 the surgisos Of
Aooa Of this gossip s,,g
What - shc al length exclaimed. in
astonishment, "is there not one huncst or
respectable person in this ncigfborhood 2,
The rcbuke had it's effect 50 far a. the
lady was concerned. for she subsequently,
learned that she had escaped them un-
scathod.
The original slandcrcr is TO be respected
in comparison TO the slanderous gossipcr.
The 6rst is entitled to tho credit Of being
frank. open. aud avowed. and thereby. as
it were, opens the doors Of legal redress
for the injured person. The latter, like
the disguised assassin, shields himself un-
der cover Of .',hey say" A clergyman.
from his own experience Of life. relates |.
ease in point. A high-toned and scnsa-
tive young man Of good morals--of cor
rect habitP in every respect, WAS the vic
tim. Reports from they say reached
the ear Of his mother. to whom he was
deeply and tendcrly attached. With tear
ful eyes sAe earnestly demonstrated will,
hin. I've amazed son pcrcmptorlly dc
MED the hargcs. II was evident TO him.
however. lhs, one Of the mischiorous s'oId
saying" what verybody says must be
true, had blinded and deceived his moth
or. Her confidence in him was shaken.
Ills word was doubted. Siung TO the
very quick, he rcsorted to the very vice
Of which ~ had been accused--,he bow
lie bccalh reckless; drank deeper and
deeper nhd died a drunkurd's death
The 81, &, Of slaudcrous gossip when d.
rectel to ne Of the opposite sex should en-
title her. n the absence Of other means OF
r'dress. 81 the right more effective
than that Of suiFragc-of the use Of the
,eourge on revolver. rs the case or scA
may require, should they be so fortunate
rs To ident ily they y case within our
knowledge occurs 10 us. \ handsome
Young widow of n western city. for a time
subsequent to her husbands death. was
occasionally called upon from motives Of
sympathy by somc of his former friends.
who had ! ccumc attached TO him By means
Of his hAspi,ablr, generous, and social
qualities Though innocent of indiscrc-
ton on hc r part in accepting these visits,
yet, :. they say" anon caused her female
friruds To desert her Bcwildcrcd, indig-
nant deptivcd Of the sympathy and sup
port Of her own sex. she subsequently. in
the popular sense of the term. became nc,
only aban ndonrd, but, through police re-
ports onr uf the most notorious women OF
i her class in the town
The cfl ct Of slandcrous gossip. ns re-
cards the stability Of business u,cn. is tos
we'll appreciated by the reader to require
/ comment h,re a manufacture often re-
i fers to critical period which occurs in
/ his affairs lie has heavy obligations to
meet, with no available means without
rninous - acricc. Had they" said he.
.'hai voice in she matter. should have
been r, lined man. Rcticcnce. even u
L 4 l..
only safei s. Boldly and confidently he
demanded accommodations. They wcrs
obtained aud he wen,hcrea the gale. He
is now worth million Of dollars. These
are no fancy sketches but literal truths.
Many readers. no doubt, can recount SIM
! instances which have occurred within their
own expcticcc or observation.
Justice. however requires MS 10 say
that there are those, perhaps the greater
number. who participate in slandcrons
/ gossip without malicious motives. Some
entertain the vain idea that by running
others down they clcratc themselves n peg
higher in the estimation Of their fellows.
Others indulge apparently witlont rcaec-
tion as to the nature OF the crime or it,
consequences No formal essay is needle,
on this subject. Our remarks are designed
rs suggestive. Should all higb.minded
persons On all appropriate occasions in
dignan,ly frown upon such species of gos
sip, cure. in due time, would boe serom.,
plishcd; pnd the gooi reputation sf all
who are honestly entitled to Il. IKE a
John the Baptist would go before
them unnolcstcd. aH aia5s