The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-10-31
BIG AND LITTLE GOSSIP.

DEAR MIR. WHIG-Don't you think will
age gossip is an abomnable thing? Tell me
truly now, Mr.. WIG, don't you think tie
residents of small villages like Elkton are
far too fond of tending nore to other peo-
pies affairs that don't need any attention
than to their own that do need looking after
badly" | once thought village gossip never
went outside OF small towns like ours, but
when l read the following in Mr. Childs'
wonderful Public Ledger this week changed
my mind as quickly as the judges did theirs
in the debate last Monday night;
The widow Of General Grant has been greatly
griered and panied by the public discussion OF
the domestic affairs OF her daughter, Mrs Sar-
toris The PuJiic Lcdgcr is authorized to say that
all reports to the effect that Mrs. SartoriS has APP
piled, or contemplareS applying for divorce or
separation from her husband are entirely without
foundation and cruel wounds to her feelings.
Now isn't it perfectly fright full that the
dear dumb, foolish people should talk in
such a ridiculously unkind way about
pretty Nellie Grant. And you'll see We
cant blame Elkton too severely after all ,
gossip just as much about their great neigh
bors as the people of the little villages chat
about their little acquaintance. | believe
the fashion of Sossipine began when horrid
old Queen Elizabeth tried to prosecute poor
Mary Of SCOTS, and sometimes wish there
never had been any England with such a
queen as Elizabeth, if we poor people who
inhabt these pesky villages are to be con-
tinually pestered by the tongue-lashings Of
our neighbors. We women can talk very
sensibly, indeed when we arc in the hui
NOR, but l know it is very often the case
that we get together in sly, little groups
and play "Old Harry" with so-and-soS new
fall bonnet, thing anna -bob's last winters
dress just made over into a fall evening
dress, and a thousand and one petty little
tritles OF this kind that are sometimes over
heard, and then the damage begins. I'm a
woman, and I've been g0SSip-yeS, n
pesky, mean little village gossip; I've
talked about this one and that one behind
their backs in way that | know they
would kick me for, and to their faces hay"
NN'N-''O
ever wore wings. This thing, | have found
out, may work all right for while, but its
awfully hard on the conSCeuce-I know
have had three new sets iii less than a year.
l want to reform; | earnestly believe it is Il
crime against humanity to be gossip, and
don't want to CONT crime if can help
it. SO | have been bold enough to seek your
columns wherein to make an appeal to my
sister gossips in this little town, and all the
other little towns all over the Union. Don't
you think they will join me, Mr.. WING, in
my efforts to reform? Iou konw, and
know, and they will know, too, some day
that it is the sweetest, bravest thing men
and women can do to cultivate feelings of
concord with all mankind, to guard the
tongue against lying and eyil-speaking, and
keep tho heart warm and tender tow ,rds
everything and everybody in the world !
am for reform in the village gossip qucs-
ton; how many will join me" +.
Yes, indeed, we do SO heartily endorse
every thing you have said, Miss +. N-edo
think emphatically that village gossip is an
"abominable think" Aud we are glad,
Miss f., Oh! 80 glad, to see one woman
come forward and condemn the practice.
How do yon think poor Mrs. Grant and
Mrs. Sartoris feel over what the papers have
lately been saying about the latter? And
what do you think, Miss f., the whole thing
came from nothing else in this world except
the pesky village gossip. Don't, please
don't, cause any more suffering, Miss +.
All your sisters will Join you. Yes, Ger
tainly all of them will, and we shall keep
our eyes open for great reform presently
in Elkton; and you, it's pioneer, shall re-
ceve the bulk of the credit for it, Miss F.
EDS. WING.