Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1877-12-19
The ~SIanderer.

If there be one person on earth more
low, detestable and mean than another it
is the slanderer and scandal monger
They are links of the same sausage, made
out of the same dog. They live upon the
dregs of society aud fatten in a foul at
mosphere. They are Incapable of pure
act, thought or deed. Their W charac-
tiers and sense OF prop,iety and deccrcy
are their sole standard Of comparison ard
hence their deprave minds con Y S the
idea that their neighbors are like them
selves. They have but little business Of
their " and hence have a deep interest
in that Of others. Usually have but lit
tie character nd therefore feel licensed
to prey upon others. In this respect, as
well as Others, they resemble a certain
small animal which is more remarkable
for its offensive odor than general useful
ness. As pure water cannot flow from an
impure fountain so noble thoughts aud
exalted ideas never emiDate from such a
source. They strike like q poisonous
reptile; they breath upon society a veno-
NOUS breath. Like a hog they love to
wallow IN mire and filth. They are as
active as a crow. They can scent a scand.
al further than a crow does a carton.
They are a putrid tester upon society.
They cause strife, discord and wrangling.
A scandal mougrr is always and nccessaii
ly a liar. They are cunning aad plaus-
IDLE aud can tell q falsehood with all
apparent candor that induces many to
believe them. They are as INSCRIPTIONS
as Satan and the point on thitr Uranium
where the bump of conscientiousness is
found on ordinary human beings is mark
ed by a hollow, Nearly every community
is infested with these creatures. They
belong to both sexes but are more numer-
GUS in the weaker. Elk Point is scourg-
cd with some of them. They go about
from house to house repeating slanderous
fslsehoods about their neighbors. They
talk fast and long. They originate in;
famous t~alsehoods and circulate them
with impunity. This satisfies us that
there is in this community I, some extent,
a demand for this infamous work. TIE
old maxim, we think is true in this case,
.. 6. if there was not some demand there
would be TO supply. A lady who will
permit another to enter her house and
entertain her with scandal is little bet
ter than the one who originates and cir
culates it. We trust the time will speed.
iy come when no lady will permit these
persons in their house, or elsewhere, to
follow their avocations. Certainly no
lady ought to become a party to such
crime by repeating these sland ers; yet it
s done almost daily. Human language is
defective when proper terms are sought
with which to describe the subject of .his
article. 1t cannot even be done by way
Of comparison? Certainly a murderer
would object. A thief only takes Jour
money or property,-he does not attempt
to steal your good name, and who is there
who would not infinitely rather be robbed
Of his money than his character: ye,
many people receive the slanderer and
scandal monger, listen to his or her
infamous stories; smile when they utter
them smiles when they leave and smil-
ingly ask them to return, who would
shadder if a hsrse thief was in their PIE
ence. Let US ask which is the wors,
character, Which the most dangerous Il
society? We assert without fear of con
tradiction that the class of character.
above described have caused more hear
burnings, more sadness, more human
misery, in this community than intemper-
ance and crime of every description,
thousand fold. Who is there that ha
not felt at some time in life tn
F., penetrating fangs of this arch demon
. So much for the evil. Now what is tn
t remedy ! 1t is a social and moral question
and like all others of this kind must b
: frowned down by the noble women 0
u community.
! SCnv oxvcnunn r~os