Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-06-19
Number 5.

Number b.
slon. We would not have it under
stood that we are speaking Of the sex
| otherwise than generally, and not par
ticularly. Though there are some we
all know of whom better things might
be expected-but, who alas! delight
in nothing so much as gossip. Let
these but find more. gifted sister, pos
sessing high-toned and sensitive ma
ture that painfully vibrates at every
unsympathetic touch, and mind that
despises their aimless mode of life
and oh! with what malicious JOY will
they attack her in her most vulnerable
point, deride the talent which they
cannot hope to complete, and mocks at
the tender womanliness which they do
not possess. Her offence is that she
has dared to shine with light supe-
rior to their own, and 1t matters not
how unjustly she may be treated. Not
being as weak and false as they are
makes her amenable to punishment,
and they relentlessly lnflict it.
From the tongue of the gossip no Au-
man being is safe! Even the most sa-
cred relationship is sometimes power
less to silence her. It is not always
the stranger who suffers. Often, faith
er mother, brother and sisters, hus-
band and children are afflicted just as
we'll.
Nor are the women alone in discuss
ing other peoples business. There are
also small-minded, narrow-souledf men
who are weak and cowardly enough to
find amusement and entertainment in
a similar occupation. It is to. be de-
voutly hoped that their number is
small, for of all despicable created be-
ings, male gossip is the most to be
Stunned and religiously and pertina-
ciously avoided and abhorred.
The sphere of action with women is
limited, and though theirresort to such
a method of diversion is utterly repre-.
hensible, that man with his varied in
terests, his out-of-door life, his! con-
slant ri llits and the thousand and
one toni luggested by the progressive
agea ID that man should find
IdeligS sh trivial and contempt
bleea snt can only be explain
ed BY ascrispng his taste to some in
durable intellectual defect.
Gossiping atsa glance seems trifing
in its nature, and is apparently un-
worthy strictattention -bns doubt not
that it is mere injurious ~ ats effects
upon the social system, of the e'a1tgste,.-
ed qcorld than many sins tl4s,ezs,e eoa.aats=
ed as S'Hent0ttss IN Ute. cate1ltd7' OF moral
crimes and intri,,gen1ents on the lars
0ccording to the statutes. of oar State
and country.
1t lowers the standing of morality;
it creates dissensions, it propagates
family and neighborly feuds, and it o.
wakes bitterness and animosity in even
the gentlest natures. Not only does
it infict sorrow upon the victims-but
with its malignant influence it utter
ly debases the soul of all it's votaries.
Common sense convinces us of this.
For is it not natural to suppose, if a
person cherishes envious and unch ar
table feelings, and views mankind
with jealous distrust, and mistakes good
for evil, and continually suspects
wrong, is that man morally affected?
Does he not daily sink lower in the
scale of virtue? Is he not prone to
judge others by the workings of his
own heart? and when he finds thele
nothing but hatred and malice--does
he not unjustly condemn the neighbor
whom he esteems $40 better than linn
sezf?"
Oh! if the women-the brave true
women of the land would only band to-
gether to Danish this sin from their
midst, and never allow the tongue of
the gossip to be heard at their firesides.
lfthey would only compel those around
them to deal gent with therefned and
the sensitive, and to be tender with all
their own sex who are cast out upon
the world like solitary waits, and whose
spirits are often humbled bv the might
Of poverty, some of whom were perhaps
once unused to labor, but who with
change of circumstance are forced to
toll for even the bread they eat. The
voice of the gossip, when more favored
BY fortune, mocks at the anguish of
'uch-treats with scorn all exhibitions
of perseverance and energy, and final
[y stabs their regulations in the dark
with false and cruel blows. 1t is this
voice which should be silenced.-
1t is the heart that throbs beneath it
that should be taught to realize this
great sin its owner daily commits and
to "mend it's ways" in humble contri-
bion, lest the ''dark days" come upon
it in turn, when it too will learn to
Curse the social lies that wraps US from the
living TRUTH
Bgg~"What nuisancew exclaimed
4 gentleman at concert, as young
boy in front Of him kept talking in a
loud voice to lady by his side. "Did