The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-22
FRIDAY. DECEMBER p. 1899.
THE BUSINESS TATrBER,


The tsttler is as much in evidence in the
business world rs ne is i'm the social circle
and wherever he goes he makes mischief
Whenever there is disturbance in business
h IL the busiest man in the community
rushing around from one To another ana
whispering all sorts Of silly rumors. which
arc either made out Of tho whole cio'h
or greatly exaggerated.
The Baltimore American says that imam
oial circles in that city were permeated on
Wednesday with idle rumors which had
a disauieting effect. one of the rumors
was 10 the effect that q certain bank In
tine heart Of the city was embarrassed.
whereas an investigation Of bankers who
heard the gossip proved that 1t was one
Of the strongest financial institutions IN
the city. having reserve Of 22i2 per cent
After this rumo- mad been run down an
other started concerning trust company
which has a very large capital and heavy
deposits This rumor likewise proved TO
he without foundation. Then there was
talk of busipess assignments and all sorts
Of gossip whlca tended to make the whole
financial community nervous.
This sort Of thing Is not only mischiev-
Gus. but 1t is positively criminal and
there ought 20 be some way Of reckoning
with men who ply such a vicious trade
1t is quite possible for number of such
tatilers to bring on panic and cause
financial disaster II those who ar inter
ested would only make an investigation
as was the case in Baltimore. tattlins
could do little harm. But In panieNy
times men do not always stop To enquire
and II Is altogether possible for the tat
tiers TO cause run on a pretecily safe
banking institution and force IL to the
wall
The tattler is not necessarily oH at
heart. IL Is more often ths casc mat be
IS simply thoughtless ana that his love
OF gossip gets the better Of his Judgment.
But accidents from firearms usually occur
AT the hands of the chap who didn' know
that it was loaded But the person who
is shot is just as surely injured as though
he had been the victm of murderer
We refer to this Subject that We may
Give a timely warains. Ne caution our
readers against indulging in this sort OK
senseless gossip 10 is. as We have said,
scarcely less than criminal for men 90 90
around the C immunity whispering AL sorts
oi rumors tha. tend 90 shake public conn
denee ana create suspicion against any
financial Institution or man Of affairs The
following story was told as by man OF
character and It happens that he was a
citizen al the time 81 the ciN of Eaiti-
more. lie said that he was passing alon&
the street on on occasion with ccmpan
ion and saw business establishment
which had the appearance Of being d.iapi-
dated lie knew nothing whatever about
the concern. but carclcssiy remarked as
he passed. THAT concern Is ina bad way.
Now s, 50 happened that his companion
had friends who were creditors of the con
Germ In question. ana De lost no time IN
telling them OF the vmsrk which DE had
heard The news spread around among
other creditors and all hands OF them
swooped down On tie concern and forced
them into bankruptcy. Our Acquaintance
remarked By way OF comment, that the
thing had haunted him and would be a
source Of The keenest regret until the end
OF hls days His careless remark had
brought ruin upon concern which other
wise would. in al probability, have gone
along and IN the course Of time would
have discharged SIS obligations.
We confess that This IS an extreme caSe.
but Il serves 20 illustrate our point. A
mans credit. like a woman's character.
IL almost sure 10 De ruined when the Cos.
sips begin 10 whisper suspicious against