The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-11-14
THE VILE SLANDERER.
TOO MEAN FOR EARTH ANO NOT GOOD
ENOUGH FOR HADES,

TOO MEAN FOR EARTH ANO NOT GOOD
ENOUGH FOR HADES,
Is the Man Who Willfully and Wan.
tonly Defames the Name of an Inno-
cent Woman Such q Creature De.
serves Only Curses and Conte mpt
and In Shame and disgrace He
Should be Loathed and Despised
Even by the Dogs of the Street.
Monroe Enquirer
During q recent term of the Su-
perior Court three mon were arranged
charged with the crime Of slandering
innocent women. Two of the men
plead guilty, and one was tried and
convicted. The two men who plead
guilty were let off with the costs in
the case, and by agreeing that it
should be made a record of the court
as the finding of the jury that they
had falsely and slanderously spoken
words of and concerning young
lady which amounted to a charge OF
incontinency. A civil action for
damages instituted by the young lady
was settled by each of the men paying
her five hundred dollars. The third
man charged with slander is serving
six months sentence in the chain
gang.
1t is painful to us TO have to make
this record. We are sorry that in
our county the good name OF our
women is not held more sacred, but
we are glad that the forces of the law
make the slanderer suffer.
The man who willfullv and wan
tOnly defames the name of au inno-
cent woman deserves all the punish
ment he ever gets, and he may be
thankful if he escapes with his life.
The slanderer, the man who with
evil ranking in his heart and moral
pollution dripping from his mouth
and lies reeking on his lips, sends the
poisoned arrow of slander against the
fair, pure character of woman de-
serves to bear all the punishment the
laws of our land can give him. to be
made TO bear forever the curses OF
outraged society and to 60 hence in
shame and in disgrace.
We can understand how man
driven to hunger can steal bread to
eat, how man in a moment of passion
and anger can assault his fellow, but
how man can willfully, wantonly,
cruelty, and with determined effort
and deliberate thought endeavor to
blight and ruin the reputation OF
woman, bring her good name and her
virtue, tho amarathine flower of her
character, into the mire is beyond our
comprehension.
Think, man who would defame =
woman, think OF the long years it
takes to build up a character. and
think what q precious thing . wo-
mans character is, for once soiled
that character can never, in the eyes
Of the world, become spotless again.
And then, o slanderer, what have
you gained when with your hellish
arts you have accomplished your pur-
pose and have ruined the reputation
Of her against whom you speak? You
may smirch the spotless name Of her
whose character is as pure as was
ever woman's character, but you have
done no more than the foulest whelp
of sin can do. A wanton hand may
break to pieces a piece OF sculpture
upon which the skilled hand OF the
sculptor has spent days and weeks
and which is worth thousands Of dol
lars. The hand OF the incendiary
may apply the torch and in a few
minutes destroy property worth mill
lions and magnificent structures
which it has required years Of toll and
cost fortunes to build. Oh, it is an
easy thing to destroy. Brain and
heart and manhood can be left out OF
the composition when a thing to de-
stroy is to be created. But remem
ber, you who would defams woman,
that you NAV stain her reputation,
but a msrciful God has so ordered
affairs that her character is beyond
your reach and in face OF your SLAM
der against her character, il she bear
the white banner OF chastity, will re-
main unspotted, for
Virtue alone out-builds the pyramids;
Her monuments shall last when Egypt's
fall"
Boys, you cannot be too careful
about how you speak concerning a
woman. Never utter q word about
any woman which you would not be
willing to hear some other boy, under
similar circumstances, say about
your mother or sister. II You will
not respect the good name of woman
through good motives, just remem-
Der, mouthy fellow, that the courts.
the strong force Of public sentiment
and shot guns are ever on the side OF
woman who cries out against the as
sailant Of her good name.