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

been crushed as low as. the common
dust upon which We tread, by few
brief, trifing words uttered sometimes
in thoughtlessness, but oftenest in
malicel How many domestic sanctu.
aries have been invaded-how much
happiness has been destroyed forever
through the disgusting Vaccinations
of evil-minded gossips!
This sin prevails in every walk in
life. To envy and jealousy alone it un-
doubtedly owes its existence. There
are so many individuals in this world
whose minds are nssrraS@, and whose
capabilities are a' They are al
ways angry witn 1s.e sssa; i-- dealing by
them in SO niggardly a manner, and
they are forever filled with spite to-
wards those more gifted than them
selves, and therefore seek every oppor-
tunity to blacken the characters oftheir
intended victims by the most artful
insinuations, and the boldestpersifiagc.
The morestainless the reputation, the
greater their zeal. The loftier the
mark, the higher their ambition to
strike the white center of the target.
1t is a matter neither of consideration
nor care to them that upon tender and
sensitive natures their wounds are al
ways mortal.
They are worse than murderers.
The latter aim only at the destruction
of physical existence, the former seek
to kill the soul, to crush fbres of the
heart, and wither up every good inn
pulse, and destroy all trust in human
nature. Pity or compunction are un-
known emotions in their range of feel
ings. They know full well that their
crime is not punishable by law-and
therefore their most virulent attacks
of opprobrium are ever directed against
those natures that are refined and del
icate enough to shrink from publicity.
Like red-lipped Lamias they "wrig-
gle down to things unclean." What
is hidden in darkness they endeavor to
draw out and display in the most gar
ish glare of light; if the victim writhes
they laugh and jeer at his torment, and
no matter what secret may be hidden
in a SOULS solemn savotory-they seek
to remove theyeil from the sacred altar,
and are triumphantin the defilement.
The splendor Of virtue, or nobleness,
or heroism, they toll to tarnish with an
untiring perseverance, worthy better
cause. And wherever they chance
upon a happy household-where
Joy is duty, and love is laid.'
and life is full OF sunny comfort and
hearts are light with cheer, they nev-
er rest contented until they have at
least striven to determine its founda-
ton.
How much truer, nobler and better
women would be if they struggled to
attain higher level of education, and
devoted to intellectual pursuits, Just
the hours they usually fritter away in
idle talk! Idle talk! This is a kind
of gossip quite distinct from the other,
because less dangerous and harmful in
its effects, but it's influence is almost
equally deleterious upon the minds of
those who induldge in it. Idleness is
its parent, and if it be fostered much
it usually degenerates into the dark
est species. How many women that
each of us know neglect their domes-
tic duties to watch the movements of
some envived neighbor; to mark her
going-out, and coming-in, her attire,
her purchases, her very gait upon the
street, and to pry into every action
that could by any stretch of the most
vivid imagination be supposed to wear
an air of mystery. With what unc-
tious delight the first and faintest in
cident is seized that can be seized as a
source of calumny; and how minutely
in all it's bearings is the subject dis
cussed with every ''nearest and dear
est" one of ''ten thousand friends"
who of course repeat the story again
and again each one unfortunately gain
ing and giving additional particulars
with every repetition until at the last
the originators can not trace the faint
est resemblance to their pristine con-
ceptions.
Innocent women upon whose fame
no breath of scandal ever before rested,
have more than once had the cup of
shame and humiliation forced to their
lips by this very scandal-monging pro-
cess. And they have drank it the lees
in bitterness of spirit, and although
they turn from the gossips in loftiest
scorn doubt not they were none the
less wounded in their profoundest and
tenderest feelings. God help these
proud and sensitive natures, upon
which SANDER fastens relentlessly it's
poisonous and terrible fangs!
Is it not strange that women so de-
base their high prerogative as to in
lulgein mischievous gossip when there
IS so much noble work in the world to
which they might turn their attention,
and as reward bring honor and distinc-
ton to their sex? Kindness, gentle
ness, forbearance, those are the social
qualities expected in woman. And
yet with what different and appalling
ones we too often meet. And upon
what petty matters we find their inter
est eliminating.
Their conversations instead of glow
ng with high and elevated thoughts
consists of nothing but senseless tauto-
ogical chatter about this or that neigh
oor's affairs. And how soon if an at
empt is made to engage their atten-
;o,o o-J J.oo,.. II ~