The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1872-08-15
To Whom it May Concern.

protection of property, and shields
with jealous care the personal safety
Of individuals, it is to be regretted
that it does not give greater security to
character and reputation. Against
the assassin and the plunderer, the
law passes its severest penalties, but
the slandcrer who, may be pecuniarily
irresponsible is left to follow his trade
unmolested. We know there is prev
alsnt idea that the reputation OF an
individual in a community is but an
aggregate of the individual opinions
of the members of community in re-
gard to his or her character, ana that
as persons characters are, so are their
regulations. This may in a measure
be true. II people were as willing to
defend the good names as they are to
protect the person and property Of
their neighbors, then the voice Of pubs
lie sentiment would be more poteat
than the penalties of the law, and the
reputation of person in the neigh
borhood be that persons true charac-
ter. In this respect there is o strange
inconsistency in human nature the
world over. Physical suffering is gems
orally relieved. A friend will risk life
or limb in defense Of q friend. The
discovery Of fire on the house top, no-
titles the owner of danger and brings
crowd eager to quench the flames
But let the voice Of calumRy be raised
against that which is dearer than all,
and then the spark is kindled and fed
into consuming fire by those who af-
forwards wonder at the flames they
themselves have furnished with fuel.
During the past few weeks there
havc been current in Macarthur cer>
tain lying and slanderous reports
against young lady whose character
has heretofore been above reproach,-
These reports are too we'll known and
too widely circulated to need comment
here. Suffice it to say, that so far
from being true are they, that they
have not the sembhnce of truth for q
foundation.
The daughter of widowed mother,
engaged in teaching in neighboring
township for the support of herself
and younger brothers and sisters, finds
that the basest and vilest SANDER has
been circulating in her own neighbor-
hood. Slander which if believed would
bring lasting shame and disgrace, on
herself and relatives. Slander ampli.
fed and given publicity with that in-
gcnuity and activity that professionals
alone know OF the originator of
this scandal we dare not speak in the
terms of condemnation he or she de-
serves. The person who deliberately
invents falsehoOd is beyond the
reach of ceusurc and ought to bo with
out the pale of society. And of the
traffickers Of the trade-whether harm
is intended or motive may say that
they are none the less liable to blame
because they give a story rs coming
from another. If il were not for the
peddlers Of scandal there would be
none. The supply equals the deman'.
No person cares to manufactu re wares
for which there is no sale in the mar~
ket. If the retailers suspend, the man
ufacturef will hunt another market.
Let US hope that the "She told me-"
and "I heard so and SO" part Of Near
thur will cease operation and then in
nocence, chastity, and virtue will not
invoke the protection of courts to re-
pei the attacks of slander and calumny.
Macarthur, August 18th, 1872. II.
Certain reports against the character
of Miss Ida Baird have been in circula>
ton in this neighborhood, These re-
ports bave been by certain person con.
nected with our names. We hereby
deny all knowledge as to the Origina'
tor Of the same and believe them to
be utterly without foundation.
Macarthur, August 10th, 1872.
Signed, ANNIE STRONG,
ra -. FINNEY STRONG,
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