West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-06-17
GOSSIP AND GUSSIPERS.
by The Bachelor Girl.
From tho rarker,bnrs Lonrnnl.

II gossip" used TO mean god
father or godmother that is a spon
sor. We'll, Il gossip of to-day is
also sponsor to all the rumors and
scandals and lies. generally. We
often think if 1t were given to US to
see the workings Of the minds Of
the gossips and the minders of-oth
err peoples. business, the sight
would be something remarkable.
For instance, if we could see
what particular cog in the wheels in
their heads, leads them to lose
sleep aud ruin their eye sight try
ing to see how late the beaux STAYS
next door, SO they can tell it neyt
morning; or makes them spend
their nervous energy running TO
funerals to see how the "mourners"
act, the amount of tears shed.
whether they took it hard" and
whether the bonnet and veil worn
rs new or borrowed. all OF which
they relate to their dear families
with much gusto and embelish-
ment; o. what particular ''crook"
IN tine mind induces them to cues.
ton child about home affairs.
what the folks had for dinner.
how much the mothers dress cost.
what the father had in the bundle
he took home, etc, etc; or what
peculiar mental process they 90
through, that enables them to ar.
rive At the conclusion thot couple
must be engaged and are surely 90.
Ing to be m Itricd, when they hap
pen TO see them together few
times.
OF course, there are several
kinds of gossips, more often WON.
eli than men, the harmless and the
malicious; though sometimes the
harmless one, with her little story,
can do deadly execution, inst as
we'll as the malicious one. All Of
them necessarily have vivid imagin.
atoms, are irresponsible, and have
their bump of truth poorly devel-
oped. They surmise this or that,
usually going by what they would do
themselves under the same circum.
stances, and tell it as a fact or an
actual occurrence.
Often they are reformers-or
think they are--and persuade them
selves 1T is their duty to constitute
themselves a censor for the manners
and morals of the whole commun-
ity. Does an unfortunate victim
commit some indiscretion, or make
a mistake, for "to err is human"
they admit of no mitigating cir
cumstances, but argue The worst
side always.
They are adept at laying down
rules to regulate the conduct of
others, and at seeing the mote in
their neighbours eye, but utterly
and entirely fail to see the beam ia
their own.
A female gossip is usually one
either with nothing to do, or
rooted objection to all work. Have
you ever noticed how her tendencies
gradually write themselves on her
face How her nose grows sharp
and peeky from much burrowiag
in other peoples business
But "last Of all came Satan -
the male gossip, the most despls-
able of all gossips. There are fewer
OF them, Of course, but their gossip
is more deadly in its effects, espec-
tally as regards the reputation Of
woman. We attach more impor-
lance to what they say, and the in
jury they can do is measured by
their anding. There ia the man
who thinks it smart to make slight
ing remarks about a woman he may
happen to notice passing on the
street; or the one who will tell any.
thing to prove what a "masher" he
is; the man whose favorite practice
is to carry home shady stories to
his wife, who naturally repeats
them agaia; and the man who thinks
he has superior powers as a dotec-
tive and is shrewd and farseeing-
into the business Of his fellow citiz-
ens--and who allows hrs magma
ton to run riot and gives his
tongue full sway, sometimes start
ing rumOrs that causes run on a
bank or firm to assign. lie can
tender the resignation Of a promin-
ent official and even have it Accept
cd, and at the same time there will
be nothing farther away from tho
officials mind.
But, like the poor, the gossip is
always with as, and we simply have
to endure them. They say all Gre
ated things have n use. Perhaps
in the fullRess Of time, we will dis.
cover the use Of the gossip.