Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-09-13
GOSSIP.
sCANDALoUs EFFECT ON A COMMUNITY
MEXICO NOT EXEMPT FROM SCANDAL
MoNGERs.

MEXICO o EXEMPT FROM
MoNGERs.
Since the unfortunate death of Col.
Ladd, we have been surprised at the
amount of gossip there was in Mex
ico. The evil effects of this habit
Of "scandal'' gessiping is apparent
10 the most thoughtless.
1t is a sad thought-bat unfortu-
nately as true as sad-that even the
very best of us roll o bit of scandal
ike O sweet morsel under our tongues.
How deliciously infectious it is! How
delightfully."- diffusive! How exquisite
ly it adapts itself to all the infinite
varieties Ofhnman existencei .a..s
Who is 20 high, so pure, so noble
as to- be exalted beyond the reach of
its Shiny, poisonous tongue? Did it
not make its debut in the Garden of
Eden? Was it not in the very midst
of the glory, the beauty, the lperfec-
ton, the unsullied purity of Paradise
itself that this kissing spawn of per-
dition-this worthy offspring of its
Internal progenitor, in most fitting
guise-first made its appearance, and
with devilish insinuation traduced
the character of the immaculate Je-
hovah? And did not our mother
Eve listen and repeat to her husband?
Mark how this internal leayen lea
veneth the whole lump! No soone
had detection followed crime than we
find the husband casting aspersions
On the wife, and the wife defaming
the serpent. And thus impregnated
with the seeds of this horrible distem-
per, our first parents came forth out
of the gates of Paradise. Is it then
to be counted as something marvel
ously wonderful hat we, their lineal
descendants, should bear the eyiden-
ces of being tainted with the same
disease? Ils. F
The popular idea of scandal is that
it confines it's haunts to old lanies'
tea-drinkings, young ladies' calls,
small villages and Plymouth Church.
While it is not to be denied that it
finds a most congenial atmosphere in
all these localities, q very cursory
observation will convince any one that
it will grow equally well in other and
less notable places. 1t is u great
mistake to suppose that it is confined
to the gentler sex. Any II a be
convinced who will listen with Il view
of testing this matter to the CONVEX
sation of any two men. Take the
first two you see talking together, oil
select those you deem least likely tC
prove the truth of this assertion, and
provided they speak at all of &
third p~erson--nine times out of ten
and oftener ten times out of ten, you
will find more or less scandal exuding
out of their conversation. In fact,
it is SO universal that. like the air We
breathe, its presence is not noticed
unless it comes in such unusual vol
umes that it forces itself on the atten'
ton. We often hear scandal and re-
peat scandal without being conscious
of it. 1t not only forms Il staple o.
conversation in society, but it also
holds a prominent position in all the
professions and avocatiOns of man
kind. Strike it out of a politician:
speech, and the remainder would re-
mind one of the play of ''Iiamlet'
without the presence of the melan
choly Dane. Put an embargo on thu
lawyer and he would be as dumb n.
the goddess Of justice is represented
to be blind. The healers ofsouls anC
the healers of bOdies-let us hope un
consciously-often mix it with thei
admonitions and their remedies
The press, too-especially the dali!
press-makes it q specially, and thei
writer's serve up to be read by on
wives and daughters sickening detail
of the most disgusting occurrences
while their printers call attention b,
glaring headlines to subjects tina
neither writer or printer would dar
to refer to in the presence Of purity
Scandal is not only an hereditar'
disease, but it seems to be an incura
BILE .one also. 1t gains strength ant
power as the world increases i'm ag,
and population. Civilization whicl
is supposed to improve and refin'
mankind. only furnishes new mean
for the propagation of scandal. TIL
church, which appears to be special,
adopted to hold its ravages in check
has actually been made the theatre o
its greatest conquests. The strong
arm of the law has been invoked, bu
the result has invariably been no
only to increase the one scandal, bu'
to create numberlcss other and small
err scandals also. Chivalry has at.
tempted to wash it out in blood, and
found itself competent only to render
the stain indelible. Opposition OF
every kind only tends to cause it tc
grow and flourish; it withers only
when treated with indifference and
neglect. He would Justly be regard.
ed as a great benefactor who would
provide an adequate remedy for this