Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-02-10
A Hideous Creature Held to Many a
lace-Covered Bosom---EIla
Wheeler on Gossipsrs.
Not with on Western PrRIrles and In
ParIOrs Of the Rich-Types Of WO.
men who Practice the Vice.
Gossip the Offspring of Idl.ness and Envy.
An Expsrinnoe-Men More Fearless In
their Gossip than Women.
copyrighted, 1871

This vice is hideous cresture, witt
malicious eyes, an open drooling mouth
raVenous, wolf-lke teeth, snd a pesti-
lential breath.
Yet, despite 81 these disgusting attri
butes, it is held to many lsce-coyered
bosom and entertained in mary family
circle. It stands in the psrlor and goes
| forth from the communion table TO Gas;
its venom over innocent victims of its
malIggity. Il whirls in the ballroom
and sits at the table Of the refined hostess.
The women who gossip are not con-
| fined to GGy circle or locality. I have
met them in the wild prsiries of the west,
aud tried to find excuse for their propen-
sity ID gossip in the poverty of their ex-
istence and the lack Of employment Tor
their minds. I have met them also in
the circles Of wealth srd culture, and
wondered how in the agreeable sur
rCuBdings OF art, music and literature
they could stooD to the mire of scandal
for psstime.
have heari ignoble gossip fall from
the lips OF ignorant women and felt pity
have hesrd it drop from the brilliant
lips Of genius, snd felt disgust.
LH6 LOSt OauSCLNuo GypC " SNSslpGI
is not the woman who has won renown
in her profession. Her noto1iety is our
protection. We are on our guard in her
presence. We speak cautiously and
listen indifferently, and she is only able
to ipjure where che is not known.
Far more 10 be dreaded is the reslly
good-hesrted but Indiscreet sud garrul-
Gus woman who loves to impart informa-
ton. know some excellent wives and
mothers, devout church members, and
tireless workers for charity, who would
be indignant were they classed among the
dsEpise6 gossips.
Yet these same women have related in
my presence the outliyed errors Of people
whom loved and respected. They have
brought cut the folded and filed away fol-
lies, long hid IN the dusty pigeen-holes of
the past, for my eyes to peruse in the
glarlIg 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 benef. me to hear. II was the love
of imparting information-the impulse
TO sston!sh rather than any wish to in
jure. But its feet WAS pernicious and
harmful.
II God iore;ves an erring and repentant
soul, why should men bar its progress
to ward the heights OF purity by standing
in Itg path and shskiEg an accusing finger?
There is 10 duty, Christian or human,
which justities US in countenancing or
unfolding the dseds of immoral people.
If l live in defsnce of law and decency,
my neighbor is justified 10 warning his
friends to avoid iutimscy with me. Yet
let him not be afraid to give that warning
IN my hesring, else he has committed the
great evil of gossip.
We are known il measure by the COM
psny we keep. If people outrage the pro-
prieties or ignore the commandments,
they have no right to expect the compsn.
ionship OF law-a6idiug citizens. But we
must remember, "Fhere never yet YVES
noble man but caused ignoble talk" and
q sensible and just person should pay no
heed to gossip till he has investigated its
defae gossip as any uncomplimentsry
remark which We would not dare make in
the presence Of the object discussed.
When we speak one dispsraging word
which we would regret to have thas per-
son her, 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 and industrious mIRds
find time to entertain this unworthy
guest.
The small county town is supposed to
be the hotbed of gossip. But l rave OBJ
served that the larger the congregation of
human beings the greater the amount Of
gossip in circulation.
In 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 s
more virulent type.
remember once lesving 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 had en- |
loved. The lady looked grave, sighed, |
and then said she felt it her painful duty |
to inform me that the friends who had |
been So kind to me were dangerous peo- |
pie to know, as their past history bore 8 |
shadow upon its psges. l walked on and |
was Joined by another friend-a widow
3 few blocks down the street. This lady |
having seen me in converse |
ton with the person whom had just lett. |
"I hope you are not on intimate terms |
with her." she said. "You know there are |
MANY people who believe her first mar |
rage was-well, no matter, but old resi-
dents here told me the story, and do not
care to know the lady myself"
1 ba6e the widow good-sfternoon and |
dropped in to call on an sc1usintance.
x"Hcw came you to be walking with that
Toman?" asked my hostess es soon as l |
was seated. 81 saw you from the win
dow, and could hardly believe my eyes,"
she said. "Doa't you know that she is
not real widow, but divorce, and the
scandal was in all the papers when she
got her divorce? l never met her, but
rom all hear she is no friend for you"
l related my experiences to gentle
nan friend later in the dsy. "Don'ti
mind what that LAST named woman saysF
be replied. "She is the most cruel l
.ongued person in the world. was int
me- house once, snd vowed l would
never go again, as she spoke SO unkindIy
81 every one I knew"
This is an absolutely truthful expert
ance which have related, and is sad |
commentary on the prevailing evil OF the
day.
No. one of these people would have |
Jared say the words they said to me IN