The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-03-01


The great feminine social evil Of the
day is gossip.
This vice is . hideous creature, with
malicious eyes and open, dropping mouth,
ravenous, wolf-like teeth and pestilsn-
tial breath.
Yet, despite oil these disgusting attri-
butes, il 10 held to many q lsce-covered
bosom and entertained in many family
circle. 1t stands 10 the parlor and goes
forth from the communion table to cast
its venom over innocent victims Of it, ma-
lignity. It whirls in the ballroom and
sits at the table of the refined hostess.
The women who gossip are not oon-
fined to any circle or locality. l have
met them in the wild prairies Of the
West, and tried to End excuse for their
propensity for gossip in the poverty of
existence and the lack Of employment for
their minds. / have met them also in the
circles of wealth and culture, and won
dered how in the agreeable surroundings
Of art, music and literature they could
stoop to the mire Of scandal for psstime.
l have heard ignoble gossip fall from
the lips of noble women, and fs.s pity. I
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 q renown in
her profession. Her notoriety is our pro-
lection. We are on our guard iu her
presence. We speak cautiously and lis
ten indiferently, and she Is only able to
injure where she IN not known.
Far more to be dreaded il the really
good-hearted but indiscreet and garrul-
ous woman who loves to impart informs
ton. l know some excellent wives and
mothers, devout church members and
tireless workers for charity, who would
be indignant were they classed among
the dispised 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
follies, long hid in the dusty pigeon-holes
of the past, for my eyes to peruse in the
glaring light of the present. They did
not mean to be malicious they simply
lacked the strength Of mind to be silent
concerning an old tale which could in NO
wise benefit me to hear. 1t was the love of
impArting information, the impulse to
astonish rather than q wish to iniure. But
its effect was pernicious and harmful.
If God forgives an erring and repent
ant soul, why should men bar its progress
towards the heights of purity by stand
ing in its path and shaking an accusing
finger.
There is no duty, Christian or human,
which justi6es us in countenancing or up
holding the deeds of immoral people.
i'll live in defiance of law and decency,
my neighbor is justified in warning his
friends to avoid intimacy with me. Yet
let him not be afraid to give that warn
ing in my hearing, else he has committed
the great evil of gossip.
We are known in q measure by the
company we keep. If people outrage
the proprieties or ignore the command
ments, they have no right to expect the
championship of law-abiding citizens.
was noble man but caused ignoble talk"
and sensible and just person should
pay no heed to gossip till hejhas investi
gated its authenticity.
l define gossip as an uncomplimentary
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 hear, we have committed gossip,
which ought to be forbidden by an
eleventh 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, al
though it may seek to assume this air.
When idleness weds Envy, Gossip is
their offspring. Yet I am surprised to
see how many busy and industrious
minds find time to entertain this un-
worthy guest.
The small country town is supposed to
be the hotbed of gossip. But have
observed that the larger the congrega-
ton of human beings the greater the
amount of gossip in circulation.
In small towns people criticise in small
matters which pass unnotlced in the
large cities. But in the cities gossip is
quite as prevalent, and is usually Of .
more vi1ulent type.
remember once leaving the house OF
kind friends who had entertained me
charmingly, and meeting another friend
on the street, I spoke with delight and
gratitude of the pleasant time I had en-.
joyed. The lady looked grave, sighed.
and then said she felt il her painful duty
to inform me that the friends who had
been 90 kind to me were dangerous peo-
pie to know, - their past history bore .
shadow upon its pages. / walked on aud
was Joined by another friend-a widow.
few blocks down the street. This lady
mentioned having seen me in conversa-
tion with the person whom had just
left. w9Fs 4e $50
II hope you are not on intimate terms
with her." shs said. You know, there
ars many people Who believe her. first
marriage was--well, no matter, but old
residents here told me the story, and
do not care to know the lady myself"
Ibsde the widow good,afternoon and
dropped in to call on an acquaintance.
"How came you to Be walking with
that woman?' asked my hostess % soor
as I was seated. 4" I saw you from ths
window, and could hardly bslieve my
eyes, che said. Don't You know thai
she Is not . real widow, but divorce
and the scandal was in all the papers wher
abe got her divorced" I never met heI
but from oil hear she 10 no friend fol
| you. .~.'-' .as afaa
related my experience to . gentle
man friend later In the day. Dom