The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-01-26
Sly Whispering.

BELToN, S. c., jar. 1S 1898.
MIR. EDITOR: My reason for writing
this, is not that have been trying or in
the habit of finding out what is said of
me behind my back; for one day would
so aboutin glow of self esteem, and
the next would be bowed under sense
of fmisapprehension and disgust.
There are people whose tongues are
constantly being fed on babbling, tattling,
sly whispering, mischief and impertinent
meddling. These tongues being set on
fire of hell scatters fire brands among
friends and sets families, social circles
and neighborhoods in flame. Such
tongues are constantly preying upon the
rosebuds OF innocence and virtue, the
foliage of worth, genius and talent. I
can understand why child, or one who
is destitute of sense, can laugh
at and find fault of people, but I cannot
understand why well-meaning and an
instructed person can dc the like. If
God should take all things that are true
of them, make a scourge Of them, and
whip them with it, they would be the
most miserable of men.
Has any one right to take up any lit
tie story they can pick up and use it in
such way as to be injurious, or give
pain? And yet how many there are that
seem to enjoy nothing so much. BY the
rules of Justice no man ought to be ridi-
culed for any imperfection.
know persons who have laughed at
and made fun of others SO much, for their
:mperfections behind their backs, and in
directly to their faces, until it has be-
come habitual; in fact, by so doing they
have disfgured their features. There are
others who seat themselves in church, or
at public gatherings, in the most con-
venient place to see and be seen, and
while the congregation is gathering, and
during services or exercises, they can be
seen stretching their rubber necks" in
order that they may see all who enter in,
how they are dressed, who their escort is,
aad very often they can be seen wearing
smiles OF contempt, defiance and scorn-
making fun it may be of some stranger.
and afterwards they will meet with 9th
ers and decide as to whether such and
such person looked beautiful or home
ly in their dress.
It is noticeable fact that the most ig-
norant people find the most to laugh at in
strangers, and the propensity to ridicuie
the slightest or most palpable deviation
from what we happen to approve, ceases
with the progress of ommon-sensa and
decency. Beecher says: "When the ab-
sent arespoken of,some will speak gold of
them, some iron, some lead and some al
ways speak dirt" for they have natural
tendency toward what is evil and think it
shows penetration in them. AS cat
watching for mice does not look up
though an elephant goes by, so they are
SC busy housing for little defects that
they let great excellencies pass them un-
noticed. l will not say it is Christian to
make beads of others faults and tell them
over every day; 1 say it is inye'na1. If
you want to know how the devil feels
you do know if you are such one.
What world Of gossip would be pre-
vented if it was only remembered that
the person who tells you the faults of
others intends to tell others ofyour faults.
Such persons should remem ber that every
one has his faults and every man his rul-
ing passion, and the eye that seeth all
things sees not itself. Y.