Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-19
HabItual FauIt-nnders.

We once heard of family who spent
their summer evenings at the front door
making remarks about people who passed.
The spirit of criticism and gossip so laid
hold of them that when winter came they
could hardly stay away from the parlor win.
dows, and usually posted one of the children
to report when any one was coming. The
signal brought the mother and daughters
away from the midst of pressing care.
Brooms were dropped, hands taken from the
half-kneaded dough, dinners were allowed
to burn, and babies to cry,-everything was
given up for the time being rather than
miss the sight Of neighbor, and know for
certainty how she walked, and what she
had on. The disposition to do this seemed
to be hereditary trait, which was likely to
grow stronger, from the fact that il was so
assiduously cultivated The grandmother
was reported TO know more about other peo-
pies business than anybody else and the
little ones of the third generation, before
they had reached the first decade of their
years, had learned to look into windows,
construct stories out of limited material,
and even invent facts. People were little
shy of the connection, ard were careful how
they spoke even in the presence of the old
lady's grandchildren. Anything said by a
member of that family was received with
some grains of allowance. The mischievous
girls of the town amused themselves by
watching this propensity. They would di.
vide themselves into squads, one of which
would call, and allow the other to pass, to
see what remark would be made. Then
those who had passed would return and
stop, and allow the first party to leave, af-
fording an opportunity for criticism upon
them. Then there would be a comparing of
notes, and "call altogether just to note
how serene hypocrisy could be. There was
not, there could not be, any confidence in
those people. They were insincere, and
everybody knew it. Even the proffers of
kindness they made in cases of domestic af-
Fiction and distress were not accepted,
when it could be helped for there was
constant dread that the sanctities of the
chamber would be violated, and family
affairs not only exposed, but misconstrued
and exaggerated, so as to be productive of
false and unpleasant impressions. No one
feels safe in the presence of such persons
Even though people may never think of be-
lieving what they say, they are disturbing
element in any community, and every true
person breads them as the coils of viper,
even though its bite may have been rend.
cred harmless. Falsehood is loathesome, and
a relief is felt when men get away from it.
1t is needless to say that such persons are
more open to criticism than any one else,
and that the faults and foibles they charge
upon others are the best indicators of their
own besettng sins. The philosophy of Phar.
iseeism is as patent now as it was in the
days of our Saviour upon earth. Unchari-
table remarks about the character or conduct
of others, or even about their dress or taste
words often so unkind and wounding-
might, in ninety-nine cases out of hum
dred, be applied with more justice to the
person uttering them than to those in regard
to whom they are uttered, and, as a general
thing, sensible, observant people see this.
The urchin who laughs loudest at the paper
pinned at the coat OF his companion, should
see to it that the bigger one on his own back
is not causing most merriment There was
wisdom in holding up the mirror so that the
Basiisk could see its own face. Why peo-
pie should delight in looking only upon the
faults of Others, even if real, is a question
that can be answered only on the ground of
perverted human nature, which is prone to
hate its neighbor; but such persons help to
add to the sorrows of the world, and intiict
misery upon themselves. The difficulty is
one that concerns personal character. The
mans own inward spirit, rather than the
foibles of his fellows, is what is to be cor
rected, and never was there more neces.
sary prayer than, From all uncharitable-
ness, good Lord, deliver us."--Selected.