Evening journal., 1897-11-15
A wAY oE THE WORLD.
People Are Prone 20 speak Detrnct-
tngly of Que AnOther.

1t seems to he the hardest thing In
life for people to speak unqualified
good of one another. This is especially
true If the speaker has a reputation TO
for wit or acumen. II looks.
he says. so idiotically amicable to sub
scribe without II protest TO all the
"gush" which is uttered regarding
ones acquaintances.
what a lovely woman!"
"Yes; good looking, well gowncd.
fair talker and almost tiresomely
amiable. It is said that she will never
hurt her servants feelings by scoding
them. and that is probably the reason
why her house is really one of the most
untidy in town"
Why add this little titbit Of scandal9
Could not the speaker be trusted to
find out the unsavory fact, If fact ii
were. for himself?
MIR. and Mrs. C. are a handsome
couple"
Yes; almost too handsome, for IL
makes them outrageously jealous of
each other. With all their admirable
traits. I am told that they quarrel in
cessantly."
''The Lofty-minded club is rare col
lection of women"
"Yes, speaking broadly; but there
are three or four members who kill it
for me-"
Why not wait until you are asked for
advice concerning the club before you
cast slur upon il? II woman really
asked counsel of you with regard TO
joining the club, you would be justified
in giving what you believed TO be the
facts regarding it; otherwise you are
not.
Il think that you know Mrs. Ii in
timately."
"Oh. yes; we have known each other
for years. But, though we are on good
terms, / do not approve of her in all
respects"
That qualifying clause quite blot
ted out whatever effect might have
been produced by the rest of your re-
mark. The woman was not socially
prominent. You were afraid that you
might be confounded with her especial
set" rather than another which you
feel to be higher. You did a cowardly
thing.
Yet you may say such things as these,
and pride yourself upon your freedom
from vulgar bacllbiting. You say that
you always credit people with their
good qualities; you simply do not think
it just to ascribe projections to them
without making it understood that you
do not indorse them in all respects
which might as well be Jumped in
with backbiting, for all the difference
there is between them.
The detractor-the especial especies
of backbiter under discussion-is first
cousin to the talebearer. Yet many q
woman who would scorn TO repeat q
damaging story will not hesitate to de
clare an unfavorable opinion, If it is
tackled onto word of approval, and
viii even hail such an opportunity foi
vindicating her discrimination. On,
eminent woman recently evaded sucl
an opportunity with grace.
what do you think of Mrs. D--?'
was asked her.
Mrs. D. was another famous WON
an, and was noted for her cool treat
ment OF her contemporaries. The ques
toner. who had long admired Mrs
D. from afar, had recently been as
tonished by Mrs. D-'s peculiar man
nor upon closer inspection.
The lady under tribute hesitated
colored slightly, and replied: Il do no
know her very well. We have lived sid
by side for years, as you know, but sh
seems to be so absorbed with her owl
affairs, which am told are very per
i picking and difficult, that ! have ha,
very little chance to become really &C
quainted with her"
Another lady, well known among th
best circles of a large city, never. al
though she, like all of us. has suffere,
at the hands of the naughty. allow
herself to be betrayed into the slightes
detraction. She has always an answe
ready for every conner. 1t contains n
drop of bitterness. Her conduct ha
furnished a model for hundreds VIII
long to be, if not Christians. at leas
ladies.-Kate Upson Clark. in Woman
| Home COmpapiOn