Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1879-02-07
Scandal Mongers.
LEWISTON jan, Sd 1879.


Mr.. EDIToR.--What kind of PEG.
pie do I live among! Having been
here but few months and formed on.
ly limited acquaintance, may not be
we'll qualified to pass an opinion upon
the merits of all. I have met with
many who certainly claim responsibility
and are spoken of by others as respecta.
Bile people, and yet were 1 to Judge Of
them by their habit speaking of their
neighbors l would be inclined to class
them among the worst species of scan.
dal mongers. IF I make call or if I
receive one from one Of them, / am met
with some allusion to one or more of
their neighbors rejecting in some man.
ner upon their character, and in some
instances statements will be made or
innuendoes given against persons that
ought to bring the blush Of shame to
every one who utters them or even in
Inmates such sickening illusions. I
have, in some instances been compelled
to ask them to cease these statements
and illusions in my hearing. notice
that they are generally made in refer
ence to persons who, as far as l
know, or can find out, outwardly, claim
to be honest and respectable people. I
sometimes think that no exemplary
course OF life and conduct is above the
attempted reproach of these persons,
and hence that the less l mingle in So
ciety here the better will it be for me
lest l myself fall under tho viviousness
Of their tongues, for if they will
speak Of others in my presence,
what will they say of me in the pres.
ence of others when am absent. But
again find that they are not silent in
relation to those persons who confne
themselves at home closely aud seldom
60 out among their neighbors. They
will 60 so far as to intimate that the
reason why they stay at home is be.
cause they shrink from the public on
account Of some known defect in moral
conduct, so that I find it matters not
whether person appears often in pub.
lie or remains at home, the tongue of
this class is equally busy in portraying
evil in relation to them. There is one
thing noticeable among this class, and
that is that they themselves never pre-.
tend to personally know of the evils Of
which they speak. Generally they say
such reports are in circulation, without
giving any author; sometimes some
name of authority is given as the per.
son telling them, but saying that their
informers had only heard so and 50,
and they want their own names to never
Re brought in question in the matter.
Now Mr.. Editor, / have my opinion of
all that class of persons, whether or not
they claim to be respectable, and that
opinion | am free to express, and that
is the man or woman who reports or in.
Inmates moral evil against another man
or woman, who personally does not
know the fact, is equally guilty with
the person, who from design, manu-.
features an envious and malicious false.
hood against another and gives it cir.
culation. It seems to be principle in
perverted human nature, to seek to
detracs from the virtue of others. iu
order to build up its own. Hence when
We find the vicious and low maligning
their superiors it excites no great won.
der. But when we find men and wo.
men Of claimed good standing, ready and
anxious to become tale bearers against
THAR equals and betters, it excites a
wonder at that feature in human de.
/ pravity. My motto, Mr.. Editor has
always been, and l hope it shall ever be
to turn deaf ear to all tale bearers
and scandal mongers, and when they
persist to any great extent, l tell them
| want to hear no more IF averv man
and woman would do the same and give
no audience to that class Of persons,
scandal Of every description would soon
die out for want Of fuel TO keep it
burning, and many an innocent and
sensitive mind would be relieved of the
sting AMI pain sought to be inflicted
upon it through envy, malice and sheer
wantouness.
A WIFE AND MOTHER.
DIR. D. s. Baker arrived hare last