New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-18
Miss Lillian Edgarton ON Gossip

Miss Lillian Edgart0n on Gossip"
We copy the following report from the
Chicago Times:
Miss Lillian S. Edgarton lectured last
evening in the Union Park Congregational
church, on Gossip; it's Cause and its Cure"
The attendance was large, and the lady was
greeted with applause at frequent intervals.
Her appearance was particularly pleasing,
dressed as she was, plainly but elegantly.
The following is synopsis Of her lecture !:
There is nothing escapes talk, then why
should not talk be talked about Why
should those who talk about other people
not be spoken of themselvesa She did not
see why pleasant hour might not be spent
in this way. Like all other Saxon words,
the word gossip had various applications
1t meant godmother, relative in the ties
OF cousinship, an old woman, an inveterate
retailer of other peoples affairs. The most
exact definition she could devise was its
inquisitiveness into, and cOmmuncativeness
about, other peOple-more especially their
domestic affairs. Gossip was the limited
talk about persons, and not at all about
things, theories or principles
History was but the capitalization OF Cos
sip and biography, its etflorescence and ira
dition preceded both. The gossip which is
the verbal expression of mutual interests in
each other was simply an unavoidable ODE
dience to an eternal law. 1t was an appe-
tite as lawful to crafty as any other I'M
planted within them, and like other human
appetites liable to be turned into curse.
1t was a deep human interest that writes
history. 1t put a stylus in the hands OF
Iierodotus, and built Bullock press IN Tue
Times office. The links in the chain OF
human sympathy were not great thlnAers'
but great gOssips.
Miss EdpartOn here eulOgiZed tea, and
said possip did not Turk III it. She then
read a scene from the "SchoOl for Scandal,
with admirable effect. Then she continued:
The habit of gossip intensified with age.
The step was easily taken. The gossip of
man was of less repulsive nature than
that of woman: but this was due to his
greater responsibilities and wider assOcia-
fions. She illustrated her argument. Men
were to blame because they did not cult
vate a subject on those topics interesting to
both sexes, and it was for want OF proper
subject woman went oft into woman rights
and kindred topics. In Il social gathering
men talked politics and business; women
talked dress and sometimes tree-loveism.
The indelcacies of the woman movement
were not the offspring OF female philosophy,
hut of a female discomfort rising from $50
lation of sympathy and interest. Trashy
and sill Y gossip was the love OF talk TO exer-
else the glands, just as some people found 1t
impossible to keep their legs quiet. A par
tial reason why men gosslpped less than
women was because they exercised their
mouths masticating nasty tobacco.
She said if good, sound Democrat would
keep tobacco away from General Grant six
months he would stumpthe States for his
own reelection. There were two causes
why the abuse of gossip was greater on the
part of woman than man. Man could not
talk because brain and body were always
in motion; woman, on the other hand, was
at needlewo rk, and her head was unOc-
cllpied. The law was lmperlcus to both.
4 cobbler or a tailor gossips as much as
any woman.
The difference between male political
gossips and women who gossip was, men
resort to scandal because truth and justice
was against them, while women resort to
it from feeling and love of vanity and
power. The difference between converse
ton and gossip was. the first was talk
which was of interest to people generally,
while gossip was talk which had for its o.
ect the affairs of particular people
As to the cure of gossip, it could only
be applied to its abuses, for if all gossip
be abolished it would only be when human
sympathies were extirpated. AS to its
abuses, they could only be completely
cured when human nature was purified as
by fire. Still the evils of gossip should be
nltigated. and they should earnestly ad-
dress themselves to this end.
Whatever might be the result of the en-
dowment of her sex with the privilege Of
voting, she was confident it would not dis
continue the abuses OF gossip. She feared
the good old maxim, Not men but meas
ures." would be reversed, and that the per-
sonal characteristics Of the candidates
might awaken deeper interest than their
principles. Nor did it seem to her the cure
for wicked gossip, in the present state OF
woman's department, lay in the direction
of womans political enfranchisement.
Rather would it dwell in the incubation
on young women of respect for the inNio-
liability and sacredness of private character,
and that truth was the only policy that ever
permanently wins; for, though lie might
triumph to-day, It would he turncd to Dead
sea ashes tomorrow.
In conclusion. Miss Edgarton said solid
comfort was to be found in the training OF
the mind by liberal studies, and that ones
whole trust and souls surrender should not
he made to tickle men and women : but
part of our hearts alteration should be
given to the unvaryiDg friendship of art, lit
erature aud science. In the inclination of
the new ambition for American ladies to be-
come brilliant and instructive conversers
on topics not at all involving the
peculiar habits of their personal friends
and neighbors. In the incubation of the
knowledge that modestv of expression was
ouly less beautiful than modesty OF life.
Let them ever remember that He who for
gave the erring Mary and loved the chill
dren of Jerusalem's household left behind
no word Of wicked construction Of His
neighbours life, but in lieu of indorsing
scandal. even of the contessedly sinful,
hushed accusation by reminding all of our
common frailty. Speak kindly Of the erring,
praise the good and exercise your natural
love of talk in the furtherance of cllaritab bic
talk and the encouragement OF charitable
deeds. Be not satisfied with needing the
commandment, "Do unto others as you
wouli have others do unto you" but realize
in your conduct heavenly beauty of the
kindred duty, Speak of others as you
would have others speak of you