The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-09-09
SANDER,

There is class of malicious prating gossips,
both male and female, who murder character
TO kill time, because they are incapable of sus-
tanning any other sort of conversation. With
out any mental resources themselves, they fly
10 cackling about their neighbors as the only
resort for breaking the painful silence OF
ignorance and stupidity. As those who pro-
lagate evil reports frequently invent them, 1t
j. no breach of charity to suppose that this is
always the case; because no man who spreads
tletraction would scruple to invent it. he
who would diffuse poison in brook wouid
scarcely be acquitted of malicious design,
though he should allege he received IL OF
another, who was doing the same elsewhere.
by repeating scandal you make yourself re-
sponsibe to society for its truth. In all cases
Of slander-currency, the injured parties should
have right, whenever the forger of the lie
cannot be found, to come on any of the in
dorsers. Indeed, such is the rule of well-bred
society among all nations. Therefore, the
.scandal-mongeris everywhere detested byrefin-
ed society, as an outlaw from its communion.
MANY wretch, says Sheridan, has ridden on
hurdle who has done much less
mischief than the utterers Of forg-
ed tales, coiners of scandal, and
cuppers of reputation. For what is the
taking away of life to the everlasting ruina-
ton of character? The reputation of many
Oil hOlSob Histil duu WOlHdll las uCCn idtdily
stabbed by smile, or a shrug, which has pro-
duced thousand times more misery than
the assassin's dagger. One of the first things
that strikes an American who is SO happy as
to obtain the entree of polite society in Paris,
is the entire absence of everything that bears
the reno test likeness to scandal. If gen.
tleman and lady possess intelligence, refined
manners, and are well dressed, they pass in
polite society for what they appear to be, I'M
fill nnbliolv nr0Ve1 ofharuisa hat 10 hair,
position can never be affected by scandal, be-
cause that is looked upon as the worst posi-
BILE offense against refined society. 1t is re-
garded rs piracy, which is treated as the COM
mon enemy of mankind. A short time ago
lady connected with the legation at Paris
called upon a distinguished leader of society
in that city, to tell her that certain gentle
man who had been received graciously at her
leyees was an improper character, to which
the only reply was: II know nothing of all
this; he was introduced here as a gentleman
his manners are excellent-he treats my
house with scrupulous propriety, and until he
gives evidence of being otherwise than gen.
tleman l cannot concern myself with what he
may do elsewhere. This was, no doubt, in
tended as a rebuke to the lady for attempting
to open little budget of scandal in polite,
society in Paris. Some years ago, when the
writer was residing short time in London,
obOliCo WCIC III ClICuldblOu dIlcCUlIl2 The
character of the wife of a distinguished no.
bleman and to such extent had these rumors
spread that a well-known duchess called
upon the queen to protest against the lady
being received at court. But, although Vic
toria is one of the most scrupulous of all
women in her own department, she firmly
replied to the duchess that she could take no
notice of slanderous reports ''The lady,'
said she, Though much talked about is still
acknowledged by her husband-he brings her
to court under the shield of his name, and
have no right to go behind that" The
duchess, whose name is well known on this
side of the Atlantic. for short time absented
herself from court, but after perceiving that
the queen could not be prevailed upon to take
the least notice of the scandal, she gracefully
yielded her own punctiliousness. Indeed
polite ears are supposed not to hear scandal.
1t is one of those coarse, contraband things
which belong so naturally to low life, that the
doors oftruly refined society are forever closed
against it.-Fine Arts.