Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1879-04-26

| tlai species OF gossip WHICH ~ aol
absolutely wrong nor necessarily in
furious, but all gossip, as I take it,
| Il. e., slander in its mildest sense
has direct tendency to degrade and
demoralize both the scandal -monger
and the listener, for, indeed, the lat
ter is fully as reprehensibls; "ths re-
ceiver is as bad as the thief DR..
Holland ably expresses himself upon
the subject when he says: " g..
Gossip is always person al confession
| either of malice or imbecility, and the
young should not only shun it, but by the
most thorough culture relieve themselves
from all temptation to indulge in it. 1t is
low, frivolous, and too often dirty bust
ness. There are country neighborhoods in
which in RACES like pest. Churches are
split in pieces by it. Neigh hors are made
enemies by it for lite. In many persons
it degenerates into a chronic disease,
which is practically incurable.
Gossip free frozc falsehood end NAL
ice may be harmless, it is true; but
shorn Of the falsehood and nalignity
which generally characterizss it, its
indulgence becomes almost tasteless
or wholly uninteresting to the old
women OF both sexes VIII, are self
constituted pedlers of cunning mix
lures Of truth and falsehcod, lies,
slanders, gossip" and calunnies.
If gossip were true it would be wholly
inadequate to appease tie inordinate
appetites Of the daughters of Eve
who cherish the right cf gossip as a
heaven-sent boon, and of that most
despicable creature, the male gossip,
who is Unsuitable as Archeron and
treacherous as Tarquin. If there is
one class Of gossips more eontempti-
bic and vile than all others it is the
male gossip. This creature (for he is
unworthy of the name Of man) is too
well Known 10 require, and too despi-
cable TO de erve, extended menti en-.
Alas there IRE 50 many IN our com
munity Of whom a dissertation or
even a description is unnecessary.
Thank heaven, there are many ncb,e
exceptions, and the babbling bipeds
are rendered blscker and more repul-
sive by the contrast,
Too many "sossips' q. e., alanderersl
"stsal the livery of the court of Heav
en- to serve the devil in, and. .t,a-.
scraps OF stale morality, Ls24lr. he
the self-imposed duty of taIebearng,
tattling and goss,ps twin-sis,er-
lying, making the sanity veil a cover
for venting petty spite, private ami
mosities, malicious envy, and personal
hatred. Some few of the deluded
beings do fancy they are performing
sacred duty, believing as fully in the
moral and reformatory power Of gos-
sip as they do in the efficacy of pray
er. They may, by chance, be truth
full, but surely are but feebly endow-
ed with that God-like attribute
charity, which is supposed to be the
cornerstone Of christianity. Eigh-
teen centuries ago wise man, with
remarkable prescience, wrote this
striking sentence:
And now abideth faith, hope and chari-
ty, these three; but the greatest of all is
charity.
Tie coward gossip that enters into
the sanctity OF the household to fun
earth the family skeleton, prying into
the secrets Of the hearthstone and the
heart, going forth with the smuttod
sheaves he has gathered and wearing
his "petty webs of lies and sneers; -
such man has murder in his heart,
and is los5 to all the better feelings Of
humanity.
Gossip and scandal-monger Names
almost synonymous with slanderer
and liar!
80 thou, from whose rank breath nor sex
can save,
Nor sacred virtue, nor the powerless
grave;
Felon unwhipp'd, than whom III yonder
cells
Full many groaning wretch less guilty
dwe,ls"-
are you lost to all sense of shame, all
decency and feeling? Lowest of the
low, and vilest of the vile -
"Blush-if the bronze long harden'd on
thy cheek
Has left one drop where that poor drop
can speak;
Dl.sh to be BANDED with the sIandercr'5
name,
And, though thou dread'st not sin, at least
dread shame"
AJAX.