The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-09-28
CHARITY VS.. GOSSIP.
"Who told YOU ?"

anu SlC 10 OuC VI tllc UuSlSSl Ol Tie
'everybodies.' | do not believe word
of it. 1t is the easiest thing in the
world to guess thing is SO, TO speak
in that way to some one, and then fol-
that some one to repeat it as truth,
verify thinking that she heard 1t as a
fact. Such thing grows too, just like
rolled SNOWFALL, until it gets SO hi gh
that it cannot be moved out of sight.
1t takes up all the dilt in its way, and,
in truth, unlike the snow mountain, i,
is pretty much all filth. Unfortunately,
it don't melt away with the coming oi
spring time. Don't tell the story to
another human being. Think of the
trouble it would make should it reach
the husbands ears"
A quick look of apprehension crossed
the listeners face.
"They say,' she answered slowly,
''that he has heard Of it, and that he
threatens to send her home to her
mother, he is so angry"
1t was not necessary to hear any
more of the conversation 20 understand
that social scandal, resulting perhaps
in 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 engaging, with no more
thought OF evil in her heart than if she
were bird, with her wings yet un
clipped by the scissors of care and sor-
row, she had laughed and danced and
sung through the season, with a
thoughtless disregard of criticism which
had brought about the sure result and
yet 1t was so plain that all she thought
about was to have good time, that it
seemed strange she should be so mis-
judged. Reckless tongues had been
set to wagging, husbands jealousy
aroused, and who can tell the ending.
"She should avoid the appearance of
evil" say you. .t
How easy to assert, how difficult to
do, in world where are always hearts
with the seeds of evil ready to sow.
Did she walk now by plummet line,
envy and malice would still declare il
crooked, and do their best to make il
look SO in the eyes of the community
And the community is apt to accept
this view, not that it has any real i'll
will towards her, but it is new excite
ment. matter of surprise, something
of interest to talk about, it causes q
sensation in the order of the day. Few
stop to think of all the PREACHING
conse quences of thus throwing shadow
upon a woman's character.
/ have nothing to say to real, thor
oughgolng scandal.mongers, OF whom
there are more than enough, men a:
we'll as women, in every society, those
who will murder reputation with a
little conscience as butcher has II
slaughtering his cattle for market Coule
there be law providing death pen
atty for such, it would be simple jus
tice. They are worse than he who
takes the life of the body, but unfortu
nately they are rarely reached and pun
ished. To appeal to them in any wa,
Is worse than useless.
| am talking now to women, gooC
women, conscientious women, whit
mean to do right, or at least intend nj
wrong. Do not smooth down you
plumage, sef-satisfed that in this ont
direction you are void OF offence.
will venture to say that not one of u
can shake our skirts entirely free from
this sin. Stop to think.
Have you never repeated stor,
about another woma", triaing in itself
it may be, but yet which would serv,
as foundation for the blackening O
her character, if added to or strength
ened in any way7
Did you ever sit silent when. SOM
piece of gossip was airily detailed il
your presence, because you "knev
nothing about it, and was not going tt
be mixed up in such matters"
Have you ever commented upoI
some action of your neighbors whici
you did not understand, in way tina
would convey the idea that something
was wrong1
Do you at all times and in all place.
defend the character of woman which
is aspersed, when the charges agains
her rest upon what "people say" anc
there is no proof of their truth what
ever2
Do YOU invariably believe, or act a
If you believed, that your sister woman
is innocent of wrong intention until tht
contrary is proven absolutely DO yot
show her by your treatment that yor
have faith in her womanhood, even i
gossip has taken her name lghtIy2
know what some of you will answer
to this last questlon,-that women dart
not do otherwise than shun the suspect
ed for their own sake. Well. if you
reputation can be smIrched in that way
better let it 60 to pieces, and work up
new one made of firmer material.
Hard as it may seem to say, it is We
nevertheless true, that the first spo
upon the whiteness of woman's nam
is placed there, nine times out of ten
by those she calls her friends and ac