New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-06-21

some remark of his which she liz likely to
think "shockin;" the annoyance visible in
the face of sensitive man when they retail
some careless and uncomplimentary re-
mark made about him by some one whose
opinion he values-all these tokens of suf-
ferings cause them positive pleasure. The
terror which these people inspire among
their neighbOrs gives them sense of power;
and affords them compensation for the neg
lect of men, the condescending airs Of moth
ers and wives, the sickening frivolty OF
the yonng, the impudence of officials, the
tyranny of cabmen, and all the other real
and fancied injuries of society. Every
London coterie and every country village
numbers at least one OF these harpies; and
a man who can not reckon one of them
among his own near kinswomen may think
himself fortunate. "Es mass duch S0lche
kauze igebess." But these are not, after all,
the only women who do harm and intlict
suffering by their habit OF blabbing. ITO
blab," as DR.. johnson says, usually i'm
plies rather thoughtiessness than treachery,
though it may be used in either sense"
The majority of women blab, not from
malice, but, as somebody is said to have
whisted, from want OF thought. And
probably qaite as much pain and
annoyance is caused by thcughtiess
as by treacherous blabbing. In this,
the ,ruest sense Of the word, every
fifth or sixth woman in society is a
blab. Two elementary principles of social
weii-being are more or less Systematically
violated by numbers of women In society.
One OF these principles is that there are
many things which, though not in the strict
sense Of the word secrets, should not be
repeated. The other is that there are some
persons TO whom certain things, not secrets,
should not be repeated. Both these prin-
ciples are comprised under the more gen
eral maxim that the sayings and GOlngs OF
friends are not common property, and both
of them are, to the infinite misery and dis
comfort of society, neglected by the blab.
The common blab-that is to say every
fifth woman in society-proceeds upon the
principle that whatever has not been COM
munIcated to her as ? Solemn secret she
is at perfect liberty to communicate to an
other. Not only does she think it perfectly
lawful to communicate to her friend OF
Tuesday whatever happens to have been
said or done by her friend OF Monday, but
she looks upon this liberty as kind of ma
tural right, and resents the notion of put
ting any restraint upon herself in such a
matter. ''HOw sensitive you men are!' she
cries, whenever any one after picnic, a
water party, or any other day Of pleas
ure-when perhaps many ungnarded
words have been spoken, and some I'M
premeditated deeds have been done-ven-
lures to suggest that it will not add
to the days enjoyment to be continually
talking about it all next week. The cieverest
blabs-thOse who are most welcome to the
women, and most dreaded by the men OF
their society-do not rely on memory only
for their stock in trade. There are few
things SO funny in fact but that they may be
made little funnier by touch or two OF
fiction. And the woman who is good at re-
peating is almost always good at inventing.
The tales which the blab sends to her
friends in her letters are of course freely
used by those friends for their own pur.
poses of talk and letter writing.
But it is in talk. of course, and nearer
home, that the bab is most effective.
Most women would be utterly at loss
for sufficient conversation TO I'LL up the
gaps after dinner, at afternoon tea, and on
rainy days, if they were forbidden to re-
peat and discuss the sayings and doings of
their friends. Dress is no doubt topic
which will fill up good deal of time. But
even dress Is not an ineXbaustibie subject,
and it has the great disadvantage OF not
being available in mixed company-that is,
| when there are men present. Besides, III
teresting as the subject Of dress is, l;
yields in interest to the matters handled by
the blab. Such is the kind ct siren,
exercising fatal fascination from
once they have allowed themselves
| to become used to listening to her
find it very difficult TO disengage them
| selves. You try to escape frem the room
! She arrests you with one of her usual for
| mulas: On, must tell you what Mrs. A
said the other day. She was talking about
| you;' or, Il want your opinion on Mr. B.
Do you think him clever! p 1t is of little
| use to weigh your words in talking to her
"a. -t,o.
! you say may be. you know that she will re
tail it in such way as 20 make you out
| either malicious or silly. If your observa
| tons on Mr.. d. are disparaging, she tells
your friends you "cant endure him. Il
what you say. ia complimentary, you arc
represented DIS quite devoted to him
| whereas, perhaps, all the while B. is TO yOr
most ordinary person. uEassociated il
your thoughts with any feelings of intoler
anpp or 2ryatjOn