The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1880-07-20
TATTLING.

we are surrounded Dv dangers ,lh-
iiutiierable. Let us mention n few. of
tlieui, It's not only the impndent
interviewer who drags to light every
family secret out OF which to make
up his column, but doctors, lawyers,
ministers and servants uivulgc fami-
ly secrets. Truly il Ia incumbent
upon all who have anything To con-
ccal to watch their tongues aud resu-
late their conduct, for Sossiping pro-
tessi0nals and garrulous acquaintan :
ces present us to large audience,
and are very likely to nIisrcprcscnt
both speech aud act.
The only thing that gives us COM
parativc protection from .hesc dan
gcrous classes is wcll-ordered con-
versaliov aud iaultless conduct.
When society takes two.or three steps
higher up, the scandal inougcr will
be esteemed so ioallisoinc that every
front door viii he slammed in his
face. And the question here Al ises ::
Should well.regulated families iakc
pleasure, AS SO many OF them
do, recouniing and exaggeraiing the
discrcditablc things OF which rcigh-
bors are sometimes guilty? Charity
aud Kindness grievc over wrong
doing, aud the soul in which these
characteristics dwell never repeats
uniavorable stories about ncighbors
any more than does the loving
,,oIl,cr about her Toy who has erred.
All these pray Tor, aud counsel pri-
vntely. the offending one.
The minister cutters families as n
confidential friend aud adviser, and
uihess he Is n man of good Judgement
AS tho majority OF ministers are
the skeleton III Ire family is mention
ell TO the wife who Is not in every
case rs discreet AZ ministers wives.
should be. She syinrnthizingly men
lions The matter To dcacons wife
who, before the matter is ended, tells
most the congregation Soft lssUme-
times with the doctor or lawyer. who
are likewise confidential advisers,
but some of whom forgot TO paddock
their tongues. All such talebcarers
and viola,ors OF confidence are them
selves aggrieved when they are sub
jects of uniavorable criticism. Put
Ting yourself in his or her place be.
fore allowing the tongue license Ia an
excellent rule. The tattler who has
done All injury IL entitled to forgive
ness only when he reforms and apo.o-
gizes.
Reader, be advised We care mi
whether vo. are a professional or
private man. aim 10 be one Of honor
ami Il tolluwcr of the Golden Rule.
Delight not IN the circulation uf I'M
favorable stories about friends or Ell.
emies. Attach poi yUursrli 10 that
infamous class. wurSc iliarl the'r an
ces'ors, are ever ready TO ca-l the
first stone. Are yOf 40 righteous
that there il M, flaw in your life !?
How answered thuu? Or this he
sure: You have OF yoursclIno power
TO tame the tongue. That power on
must get from Heaven. Y0n are
weak Christ is strong. Form a part
nership with Heaven and bpc6mc II
complete aud honored man. Steal
ing money is taking trash, but de-
priving ncighbors and acquainta ices
OF their good name is the worst of
crimes. Get out Of the unhOly husi-
ness, and as YOU exyect others TO be
kind TO you aud your wife your son
aud your daughter, deal lightly with
others. As you SOW, so shall yop
reap.
The difficult pnrI Of the foregoing
advice is TO apply it to a newspaper
editor. For in the first place IL is not
only his business but his duty to give
any and all important news that
,ranspircs, but certainly not TO caves
drop or kcyhole or betray confidence
in order to publish news. And IN
second place it should be his bnsi-
ness, rs it is his duty, 10 condemn
what is unjust, cruel or wicked in the
conduct of others when II comes le-
ultimately before him. Neither will
it do TO say, Let him he perfect before
he blame others, for in that there
would be no faithful journals.