The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-12-18
TALE BEARING.

The disposition to pry into the privacy of
domestic life is, unfortunately, very CON-
mon, and is always dishonorable. The ap-
petite for such knowledge is to be regarded
as morbid, and the indulgence of it as dis.
graceful.
family have sacred right to privacy.
In guarding the delicate relations of the
household secrecy becomes virtue. Even
if by chance the private affairs of house.
hold are laid open to a stranger, honor
would require him to turn from them; and
if knowledge of them we're forced upon
him, they should be locked in a sacred
silence.
A double obligation of silence and secrecy
rests upon one who is guest in family.
The turptude of betrayal of family his
tory by visitor is far greater than theft
would be. To pocket half dozen silver
spoons would do far less damage, produce
far less suffering, and be less immoral than
tale bearing. 1t is a thing SO scandalous
that it should degrade person and put
him out of society. To betray the secrets
CT household is not only an odious i'm
morality, but it is shame to be on terms
with those who are known to commit such
outrages. They are miscreants. They put
themselves out of the pale of decent soci-
ETY.. They should be treated as moral out.
laws.
These hungry-eyed wretches who sit in
the unsuspicious circle of parents and chill
dren, treasuring their words, spying their
| weaknesses, misnterpreting the innocent
liberties of the household, and then run
| from house to house with their shameless
news, are worse than prisoners of wells OF
burners Of houses. They poison the faith
of man in man. If one opens his mouth
to tell you such things, with all your might
smite him in the face! There are two &C
tions which justify you in instantly knock
ing man down: the one is the act of
pointing gun at you in sport, and the
other is the attempt to tell you secret,
which it is disgracsful for him to get and
for you to hear. Make no terms with such
people. They are common enemies of good
men. Hunt, harry, and hound them out
of good society. They are the worst Of
pests save one, and that is the listener to
the tale bearer.
There could be no tattling if there was
no one to hear. 1t takes an ear and a
tongue to make scandal. Greedy listen
ing is as dishonorable as nimble tattling
| ~, klo
sells its ill-gotten wares. Some there are
who will not repeat what they hear, but
they are willing to listen to it! They viii
not trade in contraband goods, but they
will buy enough Of the smuggler for family
use!
These respectable listeners are the pa
irons of tattlers. 1t is the ready market
that keeps tale bearing brisk. 1t is a shame
to listen to i'll of your neighbor. Christian
benevolence demands that you do not love
ill,news. A clean heart and a true honor
rejoice in kindly things. 1t should be q
pain and sorrow to know of anything that
degrades your neighbor in your eyes, ever
if he is your enemy; how much more if be
is your friend ?-Selected.
SUBSTITUTE FOR HEMLoCK.-The Lewis
town (Me.) Journal says: alt has long
been question what the Maine tannerie
would do for bark when the hemlock for
ests should become exhausted, which bid
fair to occur at no distant day, but it ha
now been found that sweet fern, which
springs up in great quantities whore TIT
woods are removed, possesses valuable tan
ming properties, and measures are being
taken at Ellsworth and vicinity to utiliz'
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