Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-07-24
5fiscellamY.
Tom Collins.

Nv As' NA"h ASANsJ 1850
the chase given by irritated individuals
after the mythical Tom Collins, has con-
cealed, beneath its provocation to a
laugh, serious lesson that would do
much towards improving the tone of the
public temper, if appreciated. There
are many people who feel that they must
spend much time in tracing out and re.
futing such scandals as they hear are in
circulation about them, or which they
suppose may be told to their detriment
These thin.skinned people are constantly
taking care of their character, and show
by their actions that in their view of the
case it needs defending, present phase
of our social organization that is most
excellently symbolized by the headlong
search after Tom Collins. 1t needs no
confederate to know that the defsmer
has just lett, and can probably be found
in some other place hard by, for the man
who talks dreadfully about the one who
is looking for him is always close by,
and he who has disposition to make it
lively for the unregenerate wretch who
has destroyed his reputation, will always
find plenty of those who have just heard
something out of character, the author
of which has just left. 1t is usually
those who put on the appearances of vir-
tue, and seem anxious to preserve their
good name, that have the first opportu-
mites to chase Tom Collins, and the
spectacle of full grown man seeking to
clear up his character from anonymous
assaults, or those made by strangers, is
too ludicrous for common men to resist
the temptation of continuing the farce
No one can have deeper detestation
of the character that takes delight in
circulating scandalous stories about in
nocent people than we have, and we
should like to see all backbiting pun
ished to an extent that private character
would be rendered sacred from all such
assaults; but person must be very I'M
sophisticated who expects he can always
sail clear of the notice of the slanderer
and if he is perceptibly worried about
the falsehoods that may be told about
him it intensifies the desire to see the
torture. Human nature has never been
so far civilized and enlightened but that
it has touch Of cruelty in it, and the
torture that brings witherings and men,
tai anguish is sweet relief to vast num-
bers of the human race. We must take
the world as it is, accept the situation,
and get along as easily as possible with
the things we do not like, and reform
what is wrong as far as we can; but
constant kicking against the pricks is
hard, and if men cannot afford to keep
their character clean enough, so that w.
ing attacks will not blacken it, they are
wholly powerless to keep from being in
jured thereby, by constantly running
down stories and rumors. Tom Collins
is myth, as that joke is played, but he
is solemn reality in the imagination of
a great many nervous people, who are
constantly chasing around to clear up
their characters, and seeking to comfort
the man who has slandered them. The
best refutation of slanderer is a pure
every day life, and a perfect equanimity,
that will not be disturbed by gossip.
With that Tom Collins is harmless but
to those who will be agitated by these
things, Tom Collins is ever Just before
them, and they are always tired by the
constant pursuit.-Eachange.