New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-03-07
The Feminine Evil.

The great feminine social evil of the
day is gossip.
The small country town is suppos-
ed to be the hotbed of: gossip. But
l have observed that the larger the
congregation of human beings the
greater the amount OF gossip in cir
culation.
In small towns peonle criticise in
small:matters, which pass unnoticed
in the large cities. But in the cities
gossip is quite as prevalent, and is
usually of a more virulent type.
|, remember once of leaving the
house of kind frienns who entertain-
ed me charmingly, and meeting anoth-
er friend on the street, spoke with
delight and gratitude OF the pleasant
time had enjoyed. The lady looked
grave, sighed and then said she feltit her
friends who had been, so kind to me
We're dangerous people to know, as
their past history bore a shadow up
on its pages. l walked on, and was
Joined by another friend-a widow-a
few blocks down the street. This lady
mentioned having seen me in CONVEX
sation with the person whom had
| just left.
II hope you are not on intimate
terms with her, she said. s'You
know there are many people who be-
lleve her first marriage was-Well, no
matter, but old residents here told me
the story and I do not care to know
the lady myself
[ babe the widow good afternoon
and dropped IN to call on an acquaint.
| ance.
"How came you to be walking with
that Woman?" asked my hostess as
soon as l was seated. 81 saw you
from the window, and could hardly
| believe nay eyes," she said. .Don't
you know that she is not a real wild
ow, but a divorce, and the scandal
was in all the papers when she got her
divorce? l never met her, but from
all | hear she is no friend for you.'
related my experiences to a gentle
man friend later in the day. Don't
mind what that last-named woman
says" he replied. ':She is the most
cruel-tongued woman in the world.
was in the house once, and [ vowed
would never go again, as she spoke so
unklndly OF every one knew
This is an absolutely truthful expe-
rlence which have related, and is a
sad commentary on the prevailing
evil OF the day
think men are quite as much given
to gossip, perhaps, as women, but
they are more fearless in their meth~1
DDS.
A man came to a lady once in
crowded room and warned her against
meeting any advances from woman
present. He told her his reasons, and
showed her his proofs in black and
white. ''She could and would only in.
jure you," he said, "and therefore
avoid her. | am willing to face her
with my own words if need be-"
She took pains to investigate the
mans statements, and proved them
true. This was as foreign to gossip
! as the scarrlet fever sign hung oyer a
door is different from a midnight at
tack by a highwayman. One warns
| the other assaults.
The most wholes ale gossip [ ever
heard dealt out to a suffering commu-
nifty was in the house of a clergyman,
| and his wife was the dispenser. l
| could not but wonder whether by the
earnest labor of a life time he could
scatter enough seeda OF charity from
his pulpit to choke out the crop of
thistles she was sowing from the
| hearthstone. 1t seems to me it is all
ways easier to speak good than evil.
II your friends faults annoy you,
tell him so, but for Heavens sake
keep silent about them in the presence
Of other people. You will never reform
him by calling the attention Of the
world to his errors.
ELLA WHEELER WILCOX.