The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1883-05-31

The peculiar kind of taking, CT which
we feel that we Al women are inclined
to do too much, is gossip. A common
word, indeed, and most hateful one
| from use and association. For, although
| in itself Il conveys no such impression,
/ we naturally link with it the idea Of
evil speaking rather than idle speaking
| But ii Is in this latter less objccfional
sense that we use the word and con-
slider it applicable to our sex. For GER
| tainly in the matter of scandalizing
and slandcring their fellows, we must
| believe that men far excel us, and in
! pleading guilty TO the charge of gossip
| ing we only acknowledge the lesser
fault. and leave them undisputed mon
archs in their wider realm. But we do
talk too much OF the people with whom
we associate; of their dress, whether it
is pretty or unbecoming; of their names.
whether agreeable or rude; of their
houses and furniture, and what not
And when we have exhausted the cata-
| logue, how much better are we or our
friendsP Rather, are we not the worse
for just so much pandering to the
grosser and demoralizing elements Of
our naturep
OF course, no woman who has q
shadow of self-respect will stoop to dis
course of such subjects with any but
her equals, nor will she, as rule, more
than touch upon the most general of
these, and that in a dignified manner to
any but her more intimate friends.
| But why do herself and the friends
whom she should esteem most highly
this great injustice OF driveling on that
which only denoralizcs, instead of
bringing to them the best her mind and
resources can command.
Again, many good intentioned women
are degree more select even than
this, in their gossiping circle, and
choose only their own family rs conf
+, dants of these trifles, that they are real
| " ashamed to mention to others. But
Of all the classes of gossips this is really
the worst in the results produced; for
| children are close observers and clever
/ imitators, and although the converse
| ton is directed to their elders and not
\ to them, they hear it and form their own
ideas of it. If they are quite small, the
mother will probably hear her own
words with appropriate GESTURES and ex-
pressions, repeated to an imaginary
Susie or Mary, about some other equally
/ mythical parsonage. Or if older they
will imbibe the spirit OF criticism, and
| she will have a playmate's doings or
4 belongings commented upon in a style
Fiat she can not fail to trace to its prop
er source if she be honest with her.
self, and as apt an observer as she
should be, to have the development and
training of young minds entrusted to
ner case.
But we must talk, even men find a
necessity in this direction. And they
talk about that which interests them
and of that of which they are obliged to
/ think. OF work, business, politics or
religion, and we do the same thing. We
I talk of dress because we are obliged To
+ think OF clothing for yourselves and fami-
! lies, moreover ii is necessary that that
/ clothing be becoming, and near enough
to the prevailing style not 20 be con-
I spicuous. We talk of our domestic ar
4 rangements, our help, ana our chill
I dren until we feel that our listeners
must be bored, and change the subject
/ with an abruptness that we often fear
has betrayed our thoughts. Yet we do
I not do this because we feel that the sub
/ lect is elevating, we know it is not, but
these are the things that demand the
! greater part of our time and thought,
and like our brothers we speak out the
/ fullness Of the heart.
I But we have no right to give so much
I care TO the body, in clothing, feeding
/ and sheltering it, that there is no time
left for the Improvement OF the mind.
But it is owing to this very neglect OF
our better natures that we fall into
temptation.
The mind is left destitute of food for
thought in proper directions, and we
naturally descend to the degrading hab-
il Of occupying ourselves with the triiles
of others affairs, and small talk and
gossip is the result. darlington Haaok-
eye.