The record-union., 1896-01-15
PRESERVED LITERARY FRUIT.
Addison's Scheme for Disseminating
Gossip.
Peter Hush and Lady Blast and Thei
Methods of Circulating
Scandals.

Sh41 py toucn 10 ueepsA SCdAoSA >
BY all the high mendacity of hints"
who stabs my name would stab my
DID not the hangman's rope lie in the
way" Crown
Being not always employed in more
profitable tasks, am one who has read
many books. While I admire any new
and original thoughts or expressions, 1
have a great liking for old observations,
such as have been preserved and in
dorsed by time and truth. In going
over the most ancient records of human
judgment and observation, often come
upon things that seem as fresh and per-
tinent as any that could be newly fash
ioned, and being greatly pleased myself
with such things and knowing that in
this age of journals and books few of US
read the same ones-especially if they
are a few hundred years old like to
call attention to them.
The other day I came upon paper in
an old Spectator" written by Addison
1S4 years ago. 1t is in a good state Of
preservation, and I have enjoyed copy
ing it for the Record Union" whether
or not that journal viii put it in fresh
print and thereby cause it to be read by
those who would otherwise never see it.
The writer suggests an enterprise
that, to my knowledge. has not yet been
undertaken, although I should think it
would be a notable one, even at this late
day. If we could engage a talented
''whisperer'' we could doubtless produce
a sensation in literature even in our
own prolific era. The cause of the fore
going effect follows:
81 have often thought that a news
letter of whispers, written every post,
and sent about the kingdom, might be
highly gratifying to the public, as well
as beneficial to the author. By whis-
pers mean those pieces of news which
are communicated as secrets, and which
bring a double pleasure to the hearer;
first, as they are private history; and,
in the next place, as they have always
in them a dish Of scandal. These are
the two chief qualifications in an article
Of news which recommend it, in a more
than ordinary manner, to the ears Of the
curious Sickness of persons in high
posts, twilight visits paid and received
by Ministers of State clandestine court
ships and marriages, secret amours,
losses at play, applications for places,
with their respective successes or re-
pulses, are the materials in which 1
chiefly intend to deal 1 have two per-
sons that are each of them a representa-
tive of a species. who are to furnish me
with those whispers which intend to
convey to my correspondents.
'The first of these is Peter Hush, de-
scended from the ancient family Of the
Hushes. The other is the old lady Blast
who has a very numerous tribe of
daughters in the two great cities of
London and Westminster. Peter Hush
has a whispering hole in most of the
great coffee houses about town. If you
are alone with him in a wide room he
carries you up into a corner of it and
speaks in your ear. I have seen Peter
seat himself in a company Of seven or
eight persons whom he never saw be-
fore in his life, and after having looked
about to see there was no one that
overheard him, has communicated to
them in a low voice and under seal of
secrecy the death of great man in the
country, who was, perhaps, fox
hunting the very moment this account
was given of him. If, upon your enter
ing a coffee house, you see circle of
heads bending over the table and lying
close to one another, it is ten
to one but my friend Peter is among
them. I have known Peter publishing
the whisper of the day by s o'clock in
the morning at Garaways, by i at
Wills and before at the Smyrna
When Peter has thus effectually
launched a secret, have been very well
pleased to hear people whispering it
to one another at second hand and
spreading it about as their own, for
you must know, sir, the great incentive
to whispering is the ambition which
everyone has of being thought in the
secret and being looked upon as man
who has access to greater people than
one would imagine.
After having given you this ac-
count of Peter Hush, I proceed to that
virtuous lady, the old Lady Blast
who is to communicate to me
all the private transactions of the
crinp-table, with all the area
ma of the fair sex. The Lady Blast,
YOU must understand has such a par
ticular malignity in her whisper that
ii bllghts, like an easterly wind, and
withers every reputation that it
breathes upon She has a particular
knack at making private weddings,
and last winter married about five
women of quality to their footmen
whisper can make aninnocenty young
woman big with child, or fill health
full young fellow with distempers thai
are not to be named. She can turn q
visit into an intrigue, and a distant sa-
lute into an assignation. She can beg
gar the wealthy and degrade the no.
ble In short, she can whisper mer
base or foolish, jealous or ill-narured
or. il occasion requires, can tell you the
slips of their great grandmothers ane
trad11ce the memory of honest coach
men that have been in their grave
above these hundred years. BY these
and the like helps, I question not, bu
begin to whisper by the very next post
and question not but everyone of my
shall furnish out very handsome
newsletter.
IF YOU approve my project, | shal
customers will be very well pleased
with me. when he considers that ever.
piece of news I send him is a word II
his ears and lets him into secret
Having given you a sketch of thi'
project. 1 shall in the next place, sug
qest TO YOU another for monthly pam
l7hlet. which / shall likewise submit
to your spectatoria1 wisdom. 1 neet
not tell you, sir, that there are severa
authors in France, Germany ana Hol
land. as well as in our own country
who publish every month what the1
call An account of the works OF I'M
learned. in which they give US an ao
stract of all such books as are printed
in any part of Europe. Now, sir, It i
my design TO publish every month al