The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1899-07-07
Very truly yours,
WHISPERED VENOM.
fHE VOICE OF THE GOSSIP LIKE THE
SERPENT'S HISS.
DR.. TaimaEe Says the Purveyor Of
Idle Tales Is the Poisoncr of Socie-
ty-A Strong Arrangement OF Linrs
and Tattlers.
copyright, Louis Klopsch, 1901

and Tsttlers.
Copyright, Louis Klopsc., 1901
, WASHINGTON, July 2.-In this dis
course DR.. Talmage vigorously arraigns
one Of the great evils that have cursed
the world and urges generous intcrprc-
tatlop OF the character OF others; text,
Roman4 !. 20, "Full Of envy, murder,
debate, deceit. malignity; whispcrers."
Raul was here calling the long roll of
the worlds villniny, and lie puts in the
midst OF this roll those persons known
in nil cities and communities and
places as whispcrers. They are so call.
ed because they generally speak under
voice and in n confidential way, their
hand TO the side Of their mouth acting
as a funnel to keep the precious infor-
nation from wandering into the wrong
ear. They speak softly not because
tSSy have lack OF lung force or because
they ore overpowcred with the spirit
OF genti4pess, but because they want to
Ssrape the consequences Of defama-
ton. If NO one hears but the person
whisrsared unto, and tho offender be ar
raiRned, he can deny the whole thing,
for whisperers ore always first class
liars!
Some people whisper becaIse they
are honrse from O. cold or because they
wish to convey some useful informa-
tion without disturbing others. but the
creatures photographed by the apostle
in my text give muffied utterance from
sinister aud depraved motive, and
sometimes you cnp only hear the siDi'
fAnt sound as the letter "S' drops from
the tongue into the Iistenihg ear, the
brief bliss of tho serpent as IT projects
Its venom.
I, Whispcrcrs are masculine and femi-
nine. with tendency to majority on
the side Of those who are called
"ths lcrda Of creation" Whisperers are
heard at every window OF bank cash
ker and are heard in all counting
rooms as we'll as in sewing societies
and Mt meetings Of asylum directors
and managers. They arc the worst
fees Of society. responsible for miseries
innumerable; they are the scavengers
OF the world, driving their cart through
every community, and today hold up
for your holy annthema and e4ecration
these whisperers.
Paul O Victim.
! From the frequency with which Paul
speaks OF them under different titles ]
conclude that he must have suffered
somewhat from them. His personal
presence was very defective. and that
made him, perhaps, the target OF their
ridicule. And, besides that, he was
bachelor, persisting In his celibacy
down into the sixties, indeed all the
way through, and, some having failed
In their connubial designs upon him,
the little missionary was put under the
raking fire Of these whisperers. He was
no doubt a rare morsel for their scan
daiizntion, and he cannot keep his
patience any longer, and be lays hold of
these miscreants Of the tongue and
gives them a very hard setting down
in my text among tha sc0undrelly and
the murderous. envy, murder, de-
bate, deceit, malignity: whispercrs."
The law Of libel makes quick and
stout grip Of open SANDER. If l should
in a plain way, calling you by name,
charge you with fraud or theft or MUIR
der or uncleanness, tomorrow morn
ing might have peremptory docu-
menfs served on me, and l would have
to pay IN dollars and cents for the
damage I had done your character.
But these creatures spoken Of In my
text are so small that they escape the
sisae tooth comb Of the law. They go
on, and they go on, escaping the judges
and the juries and the penitentlariss.
The district aL..rney cannot find them,
the sheriff cannot find them, the
grand jury cannot find them. Shut
them of from one route Of perfidy and
they start on another. You cannot by
the force OF moral sentiment persuade
them to desist. You might as well
read the Ten Commandments to a flock
OF crows, expecting them to retrent uD-
der the force OF moral sentiment. They
arc to be found everywhere, these
whisperers. think their paradise Is a
country village Of about 1000 or 1000
people. where everybody knows every
body. But they also are to be found In
large quantities In all our cities.
They have a prying disposition. They
look into the basement windows at the
tables of their neighbors and can tell
Just what they have morning and night
to eat. They can see as far through n
ksyhole as other people can see with n
door wide open. They can hear con-
versation on the opposite side Of the
room. Indeed, the world to them is n
Whispering gallery. They always put
the worst construction on everything.
A Eisaaish Spirit.
ssns Hsfalas . riss asscsnds lsta