Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-07-31
GOSSIP
Pioneer Press.

Probably there il no more harm
less, and yet dangerous habit than
that OF gossiping. It has been tru
II said that people will talk" and,
indeed, they often talk TOO mach.
The tongue, that member SO potent
for good or for evil, is the agent by
which gossiping is carried on. There
is perhaps not more dangerous
and injurious practice than this. 1t
is both dangerous TO him that talks
and to him who is talked of. 1t has
been said that mercy "blesses him
that gives and that takes; y but OF
gossip it can be said that not only
does it curse the person who is made
the topic for idle criticism and SLAM
der, but it also deeply Injuries him
who does the gossiping. OF all
evils to be despised beyond measure,
certainly there is none more justly
contemplate than gossip; and of
persons to be spurned from society
certainly he who habitually talks
about his neighbor, deserves the
strongest contempt. A man or wo-
man who has no higher calling than
to go about from house TO house
talking about his or her neighbor is
certainly hard up for q job, and yet,
how many such persons do we sec
every day in our intercourse with
the world? THERE'S always in some
localities some person who can al
ways give the particulars Of all hap
penings in their neighborhood and
when facts fais they can fall back
upon very versatile imagination
which supplies every deficiency
and makes up for every blank space.
As news gatherers, they can outwit
half dozen newspapers. For inge-
nuity and invention they cannot be
excelled. They get little idea Of
some little thing of no Importance,
and away they start, from house to
house, publishing the good news
(?)--of course each time putting n
little amendment to 1t, until little
story, is gradually expanded until it
becomes mammoth lie. They
seem to have no idea Of the damage
that is incurred by their foolish and
harmful indulgence. The reputa-
ton Of friend, the good name OF rela-
tive, and every endearing tie OF home
is sacrificed to crafty this whole
sale desire for spreading news. This
habit prevails within both sexes to
an alarming extent, and to the seri-
Gus detriment of all. What good
can possibly result from exposing
the faults and defects ofsome friend,
or from pointing out the weakness
of an acquaintance? Sarely there
can no material good follow. The
tongue if properly used can be made
potent for good, but like fire, water
or any other element, when turned
in the wrong direction, it works sad
havoc. The poet has given some
wise advice, worth needing, in the
following lines
off thou wishest 10 be wise,
Keep these words before thine eyes,
What thou speakest, and hog, beware.
OF whom, to wpom, aoheR and Whcre,"
Our sister state, has very cred
liable law in the person Of the Dow
Liquor Law. While it may not give
satisfaction to the great majority of
temperance people who believe in
stopping the traffic in Intoxicating
liquors by gradual legislation, it
gives to town and city councils the
power to allow the people, by vote,
to decide whether or not traffic in
intoxicants shall be allowed. 1t
gives them the principle of local OPP
ton, which is indeed quite reason
able. 1t remains to be seen whether
or not the people, in the various To-
calities will agitate the matter SUI
Efficiently to compel the councils to
give them the right to exercise heir
privilege. In places where the sa-