The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1879-01-24
GOSSIP.

Perhaps there is no II thing
that is calculated to disturb and
stir mp a community or neighbor-
hood more than the gossip of its
citizens. Aud by the word "gOs-
sip" we do not mean altogether the
malicious and idle tales circulated
from one person to another about
their neighbors, but also talk that
at first would not really injure any
one, but after being repeated by
two or three parties, is magnifed
into something aufnl and serious
indeed. In all small towns and
villages where news is generally
scarce, in the absence of anything
else to talk about, when two or
three inhabitants get together the
conversation seems naturally to
run upon the subject of some one
of the citizens of the town, and be-
fore they separate the particular
person who has been so "unfortu
nate rs to come within range ofthe
lash of the unruly member of the
human body spoken of in the third
chapter Of James as being 50 hard
to tame, has been thoroughly dis,
sected and his faults and fOibles
laid bare to their vulgar gaze.
Such things should not be, but, in
the language of a contemporary,
every body must talk about Some
thing. The poor fellow who was
told not to talk for fear that the
people would find out that he was
a fool, made nothing by the eXper-
meut. He was considered a fool
because hc did not talk on some
subject or other. Everybody must
have something to say, or give up
society. Of course, the topics of
conversation will relate to the sub.
jects of knowledge. If a mau is
interested in science he will talk
about science. If he is an enthusi- !
asst in art he will talk about art, If
he is familiar with literature, and
is an intelligent and persistent
reader, he will naturally bring tor,
ward literary topics in his CONVEX
sation. SO with social and religious
questions. "Ouu of the abundance
of the heart the month speaketh."
That of which the mind is full, that
with which it is furnished, will
come out in expression.
The very simple reason why the
worlds full of gossip is, those who
indulge i'll it have nothing else in
them. They must interest them.
selves in something. They know
nothing but what they learn from
day to day in intercourse with and
observation OF their neighbors.
What their neighbors do, what
they say, what happens to them in
their social business affairs, what
they wear, these become the ques-
tons of supreme interest. The
personal and social life around
jhem-this is the book under con
slant perusal, and out of this comes
hat pestiferous conversation which
We call gossip. The world is tull /
fit, and in Il million houses all /
the country nothing is talked
# but the personal affairs ofneigh- |
,OrS.
What is the cure for gossip7
culture. There is a great I
cal of gossip that has no malignity
it. GOOd-natured people talk d
bout their neighbors because, and !
My because, they have nothing 1
lse to talk about. |
Gossip is alwaysa personal con- d
,ssion either of malice or imbecil- d
y, and the young especially should
OF only shun it, but by the most n
borough culture relieve themselves -,
ON all temptation to indulge in u
1t is low, frivolous and too Of :.
N a dirty business. There are :,
neighborhoods in which :,
RACES like a pest. Churches are :,
,lit in pieces 10y it. Neighbors
AXE enemies by it for lite. In
any persons it degenerates into Il s.
lronic disease, which is practically Il
durable. Let the young cure it p
bile they may.