Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-08-05
Tom Collins.

The fun that society has derived from
the chase given by irritated individuals af
ter the mythical Tom Collins, has conceal
ed beneath its provocation to a laugh, a
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 refuting such scandals
rs they hear are in circulation about them,
or which they suppose may be told to their
detriment. These thin skinned people who
are constantly taking care of their character,
and show by their actions that in their
view of the case it needs defending pre-
sent phase of our social organization that
is most excellently symbolized by the head
long search after Tom Collins. 1t needs
no confederate to know that the deftmer
has just left, and can probably be found in
some other place hard by, for the nun who
talks dreadfully about the one who is look
ing 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 char
acter, the author of which has just left. 1t
is usually those who put on the appearance
of virtue. and seem anxious to preserve
!
tunities to chase Tom Collins, and the
spectacle of a full grown MN seeking to
clear up his character from anonymous as
saults, or those made by strangers, is too
! ludicrous for common men to resist the
temptation of continuing the farce.
No one can have u deeper de estation of
the character that takes delight in circuat-
ing scan,lalous stories abou: innocent peo-
pie than we have and we should like to
see all blckbiting punished to an extent
that private character would be rendered
sacred from all such assaults; but per-
son must be very unsophisticated who eN-
poets he can always sail clear of the notice
of the slanderer, and if he is perceptlbly
worried about the falsehoods that MAY be
told about him it intensities the desire to
see the torture. Human nature has never
been so far civilized and enlightened but
that it has a touch of cruelty in it, and the
torture that brings witherings and mental
anguish is Il sweet relief to vast numbers
of the human race. We must take the
world rs it is, accept the situation, and get
along as easily rs 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 can
not afford to keep their character clean
enough SO that lying attacks will not
blacken it, they are wholly powerless to
keep from being injured thereby, by con-
stantly running down stories and rpmors.
Tom Collins is myth, as that joke Il play
ed, but he is solemn reality in the imag-
ination of 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.
Erchange.