The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-11-15
vs.. GOSSIP.
"Who told you?''

eFcl ypoules. L uD HOb DtIieNe Il hOAu Vi
it. 1t is the easiest thing in the world to
guess a thing is SO, to speak in that way to
some one, anG then for that someone to re-
peat it as truth, verify thinking that she
heard it as a fact Such a thing grows too,
just like a rolled snow ball, until it gets so
high that it cannot be removed out of sight.
It takes up all the dirt in its way, and, in
truth, unlike the snow mountain, it is pref
ty much all filth. Unfortunately, it don't
melt away Will the coming of spring time.
Don't tell the story to another human be-
ing. Think of the trouble it would make
should it reach the husbands ears
A quick look ofapprehension crossedthe
listeners face.
"They say" she answered slowly, shat
be has heard of it, and that he threatens to
send her home TO her mother, he isso angry.
1t W a not necessary TO hear any more of
the conversation TO understand that a social
scandal, resulting perhaps in a tragedy,
was impending.
The lady in the case was a bright young
married woman. whose pulses were aglow
with the mere pleasure of living. Full of
light, and life, and gaiety, pretty and en-
gaging, with no more thought of evil in
her heart than if she was a bird, with her
wings yet unclipped by the scissors of care
and sorrow she had laughed and danced and
sung through the season, with a thought
less disregard of criticism which had
brought about the sure result; and yet it
was so plain that all she thought about
was to have a good time, that it seemed
strange she could be so misjudged. Reck-
less tongues had been set to wagging, a
husband jealousy aroused. and who can
| tell the ending.
"She should avoid the appearance Of ev-
il" say you.
How easy to assert, how difficult to do in
a world where there are always hearts with
the seeds of evil ready to SOW. Did she
walk now by plummet line, envy and NAL
ice would still declare it crooked, and do
their best to make it look SO in the eyes Of
the community. And the community is
apt to accept this view, not that it has any
real ill-will towards her, bat it is a new
excitement, a matter of surprise, something
of interest to talk about, it causes a sensa-
ton in the order of the day. Few stop to
think of all the far-reaching consequences
of thus throwing a shadow upon a wem-
ans character.
l have nothing to say to real, tho trough
going scandal-mongers, of whom there are
more han enough, men as well as women,
in every society, those who will murder a
reputation with as little conscience as a
butcher has in slaughtering his cattle for
market. Could there be a law providing
a death penalty for such, it would be sim
pie justice. They are worse than he who
takes the life of the body, but unfortunate
" they are rarely reached and punished.
To appeal to them in any way is worse
than useless.
l am talking now to women, good wom-
ED, conscientious women. who mean to do
right, or at least intend no wrong. Do
not smooth down your plumage, seif-satis-
fed that in this one direction you are void
of offence. will venture to say that not
one Of us can shake our skirts entirely free
from sin. Stop to think.
Have you never repeated 3 story about
another woman, trifing in itself, it may
be, but which would serve as a foundation
for the blackening of her character, if add
ed to or strengthened in any way
Did you ever sit silent when some piece
of gossip was airily detailed in your pres
enee, because You knew nothing about it
and was not going to be mixed up in saeh
matters?'
Have you ever commented npon some
action of your neighbors which you did
not understand, in a way that would con-
vey the idea that som ething was wrong?
Do you at ali times and ali places defend
the character of woman which is aspersed
when the charges against her rest upon
what ''people say" and there is no proof
| of their truth whatever?
Do you invariably believe, or act as if
you believed. that your sister woman is in
nocent of wrong intention until the con-
trary is proven absolutely Do you show
her by your treatment that you have faith
in her w~omanhood, even if gossip has TAX
en- her name lightly?
l know what sons of you will answer to
this last question, that women dare not
do otherwise than shun the suspected for
their own sake. Well, if your reputation
can be smirched in that way, better let it
60 to pieces, and work up a new one made
of frmer material.
Hard as it may seem to say, It's yet new
ersheless true, that the first spot upon the
whiteness of a woman's name is placed
there, nine times out of ten, by those she
calls her friends and acquaintance. They
do not mean to do it. They would be
shocked to know it was their work. And
they would be deeply distressed were they
convinced that by word or deed of theirs
it had been constantly deepened. And yet
it was.
ave had ajolly time last night says
number one; ''Mrs. A.. drank some cider
which went straight to her head, and yea
can't imagine how comically she acted. "
'sThey had company over to DIS the
other night" saws number two, eand Mrs.