Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-07-31
Gossips.

virtue in place Of that little sin excluded
from the divine law of"love thy neighbol
as thyself' we might expect one of the
places in the realization OF all delights
But we don't love them, and why add the
sin of lying that Of hatred, by saying We
do, making consumste hypocrits Of our
selves? They come to our homes, and the
rule of propriety compels us to treat them
well, and when going the rule of hypoc.
risy compels US to say 81 would bepleased
to have you call again." when our i'm.
pulses protest against such an attrocious
falsehood and make us devoutly hope
they may never come again.
The origin of all politeness is real kind.
illness of heart and true courtesy, they
constitute the basis of society, but the one
great detection in this assembly of well
meaning people, is the lack of genuine
sympathy and sensitiveness which re-
CARDS the feelings of others as carefully as
their own, and thus sets them aside as a
distinct sect, a mar and jar on the
placid waters OF life, but a blot particularly
on womanhood, the shining side of life,
where shadows are most easily detected.
They are the ones who adhere strictly to
the laws of etiquette, there is nothing
lacking in all their punctillious responds
to the printed code but their want of heart.
They call at the proper time, at regular
intervals with the usual budget of news,
which increases by constant repitition.
Thep meet you at the door of your home,
with the best welcome for themselves, and
Judas kiss for the hostess for whom they
entertain not one tenth part of friendship
that would warrant the demonstration OF
so much affection; the usual forms are
gone over religiously-then they take out
the little budget which contains all the
mud and cobwebs of the vicinity, it is
carefully unrolled that not an item may
be lost, all the scandal of the neighbor-
hood and Of friends not in the neighbor-
hood then has an airing, with the addition
ofsome little items picked up at the last
house. She draws her chair confidingly
near and tells something not generally
knowl of the lady who entertained her SO
kindly, or her husband or family, and
after it is whispered in low voice so we
cannot hear the parting injunction "Please
don't mentionit" is loud enough to let us
know the Gossip has come. Oh, dear,
such people; we ought to wad our ears
uyh hon fhoxy nj halls pt,t hat ic
not all, no indeed. After telling some
ofyour neighhors troubles or faults, she
must give you something to bless her for,
or her tiumph is not complete, some thorn
to rankle in your flesh before the conven-
tual short call is ended. 1 verify believe
her object in coming is to tell you some
thing that will cause you pain, and she
tells the unpleasantness with as much Sc
renity as the recording angel jots down
one temptation overcome on your short
list OF virtues, while her sharp eyes pierces
your very soul to see the effect you strive
to conceal, and which would heighten her
triumph, "I've had 'em, know 'em." In
deed the acidity would be lost if one gos-
sip would not have the requisite compla-
cency OF being first to impart that which
would cause individual anxiety or torture.
We might suppose such a task would be
shutfled about, and none want to assume
it, but we might also suppose the tower of
Pisa would fall or we are all going to die
of Asiat:c cholera. We cannot fetter a
thought by cramping supposition, nor
can we fill the chasms that are being made
between friends through the instrument
tality of those society reporters, they daily
cause trouble and always will.
Idon't know whether society would be
terribly shocked or not if we were to do as
Betsy when
can ancient virgin took pains to call on US,
Her lamps all trimmed and burning, to
kindle another fuss,
But when she went to pryng and openin'
of old sores,
Ny Betsy rose politely and showed her
out of DOORS"
There would be a visible violation OF
rules, but is it greater than to sit and hear
our best friends defiled by malice?
1t is a tendency of woman to talk; there
is an excuse for it, but none can be found
for constantly harplng about our neigh
bors misfortunes or faults, except that
their minds are bounded and pressed by
very narrow views of human kindness
and progress. five would make the re-
solve, not to say anything bad OF friend
if we truthfully could say nothing good,
there would be one step toward the ex-
tinction of despised sect and the founda-
ton of true politeness and real courtesy.
MARY
Teas. cnffees and sugars at Rradleu,s.