Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-02-05
A Hideous Creature Held to Many a
lace-CoVered Bosom---Ella
Wheeler on Gossipsrs.
Met with on Western PrairIes and In
ParIors OF the Rlch-Types OF WO.
men who Practice the Vice
Gossip the Offspring of Idlsness and Envy.
AN Experiencs-MeD moro Fearless In
thaIr Gossip than WOmsn.
Copyrighted, Iss7.)

This vice is 8 hideous creature, with
malicious eyes, an open drooling mouth,
ravenous, wolf like teeth, snd a pesti-
Iential breath.
Yet, despite 81 these disgusting attri-
butes, it is held to many lace-covered
bosom and entertained in man. family
circle. 1t stands in the parlor GnC goes
forth from the communion tsble to cast
It's venom over innocent victims Of its
malignity. 1t whirls in the ballroom
and sits at the table of the refined hostess.
The women who gossip are not con-
fined to any circle or locality. l have
met them in the wild prairies OF the west,
and tried to find excuse for their propen
sity t. gossip in the poverty of their eX
isteuce and the lack of employment for
their minds. I have met them also in
the circles of wealth and culture, and
wondered how in the agreeable sur
roundings OF art, music and literature
they could stoop to the mire Of scandal
for pastime.
have heard ignoole gossip fall from
the lips of ignorant women and felt pity.
have heard it drop from the brilliant
lips of genius. and felt disgust.
The most dangerous type OF gossiper
is not the woman who has won a renoWn
ia her profession. Her notoriety is our
protection. We are on our guard in her
presence. We speak cautiously and
listen indifferently, and she is only able
to iDjufe where she is not known.
Far more to be dreaded is the really
good-hearted but lndiscreet and gGrrul-
Gus woman who loves to impart informs-
ton. know some excellent wives and
mothers, devout church members, and
tireless workers for charity, who would
be indignant were they classed among the
deRpised gossips.
Yet these same women have related in
my presence the outlived errors Of people
whom loved and respected. They have
brought out the folded and FLED away fol-
lies, long hid IN the dusty pigeen-holes of
the past, for my eyes to peruse in the
glsrlng light of the present. They did
not mean to be malicious-they simply
Iacsed the strength Of mind to be silent
concerning an old tale which could in no
wise benefi5 me to hear 1t WAS the love
of imparting information-the impulse
to astonish rather than any wish to in
lure. But it's ffsct WAS pernicious and
harmful.
II God forg:ves an Crring aud repentant
soul, why should men bar It's progress
to ward the heights of purity by standing
in It's path and shaking an accusing finger?
There is no duty, Christian or human,
which justifies US in countenancing or
unfolding the deeds Of immoral people.
II live in defiance of law and decency,
my neighbor is justified In warning hls
friends to avoid Intimacy with me. Yet
let him not be afraid to give that warning
IN nv hearing, else he has committed the
great evil of gossip.
We are knoW n in a measure by the COM
pany we keep. Hpeople outrage the pro-
prieties or ignore the commandments,
they have no right to expect the compan
ionship Of laW-abidipg cttizeIs. But we
must remember, "Tnere never yet was
noble man but caused ignoble talk" and
. sensible and just person should pay no
heed to gossip ill he has investigated its
authenticity.
l define gossip IS any uncomplimentsry
remark which we would not dare make in
the presence of the object discussed.
When we speak one disparaging word
which we would regret to have that per- :,
son heer, we have committed gossip,
which ought to be forbidden by an eleV-
enth commandment, since some OF the
worst troubles the world knows arise
from it.
Gossip never reformed any soul or
righted any wrong. 1t seldom arises
from any feeling of outraged propriety,
although it may seek to assume this air.
When Idleness weds Envy, Gossip is
their offspring. Yet am surprised to
see how many busy ana industrious minds
fad time to entertain this unworthy
guest.
The small county town is supposed to
be the hotbed of gossip. But l have OBJ
served that the larger the congregation of
human beings the greater the amount OF
gossip in circulation.
Ia small towns people criticise in small
matters, which pass unnoticed IN the
large cities. But in the cities gossip IS
quite as prevalent, and is usually Of q
more virulent type.
1 remember once leaving the house of
kind friends who had entertained me
and meeting another friend
on the street, spoke with delight and
gratitude Of the pleasant time 1 had en-
loved. The lady looked grave, sighed,
and then said she felt it her psinful duty
to inform me that the friends who hsds
been so kind to me we're dangerous peQe
pie to know, as their past history bore -
shadow upon its pages. walked on end
was io;ned by another friend-s widqw-zl
q few blocks down the street. Thissledy
mentioned having seen me in CONVERSE
ton with the person whom hadsust left.
"I hope you are not on intimate terms
with her." she said. "You know there are
many people who believe her first mar
risge was-well, no matter, but old resi-
dents here told me the story, snd DO not
care to know the lady myself"
babe the widow good-afternoon and
dropped in to call on an acquaintance.
wS"How came you to be walking with that
Womsn?" asked my hostess es soon SO l
was seated. 81 saw you from the win
dow, aud could hardly believe my eyes"
she said. "Don't you know that she Is
not resi- widow, but divorce, and the
scandal was in sn the papers when she
got her divorce? 1 never met her, but
from ali hear she is no friend for you"
relsted my experiences to gentle
man friend later in the day. ."Don't
mind what that last named woman says"
he replied. "She is the most cruel
tongued person in the world. l WAS in
her house once, and l vowed l would
never go again, as she spoke so unkindly
Of every one l knew"
This is an absolutely truthful expert
ence which I have related, and Is sad
commentary on the prevailing evil OF the
day.