Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-06-10
G0ssIP's GROWTH.
Scarcely Any nabi. Which Mature. s.
Quickly.

! There is scarcely any habit. save nor
haps that Of Incidence. which rrn,,,s
SO quickly and SO insidously as tho,
most unloveiy one of gossip. The love
of being an object of interest, inheren,
in the human individual the feeling
of self Importance conferred by i'm
parting bit of news, the desire 10
exchange tritle Of the CURRENCY ~
thought, all these combine to feed tho
first little shoot, which springs IN in
us. slender and harmless looking but
| bearing in its fiber capabilities of the
| strongest and most degrading pronen-
sity of femininity.
There are very few of us who do not
| like to talk. If those who are shy or
silent because OF lack of expressive
ability were to have this hindrapco
removed, they would very quickly find
| and experience the delight of "holdinr
the floor"
Those of us who are learned speak
of the things we know, or which wo
would like to know. or which we think
we knew. Those of us who find the
personal Ego interesting matter for
study speak of that Ego, it's expert
ences. its aptitudes and desires. Those
of us who are too shallow for either
of these. can find food for speech only
in the actions and propensities of
others. wherefore of all woman talk
ers. the gossip is placed lowest. The
woman who criticises her neighbours
house, her husband or her actions is
thus a step lower than the woman
who boasts Of her own possessions in
these lines. because the latter at least
intrinCcs on no rights when she talks.
save those of her listener, and to him
is always left the privilege of going
away. But the woman who talks about
her neighhor offends doubly. because
she in,iicts injury both on the one who
is listening and the one who is
criticised.
Often the first impulse to a gossiping
habit comes from an apparently good
motive.
Mrs. Smith is lonely. Will run and
cheer her up. l can tell her all about
the wedding"
Such is the first chapter. and so far
it is good. If the telling about the
wedding" We're confined to bright and
lovely features, the flowers, the hap
pincSS of the couple married the pref
~ frocks of the guests, all would be
good. but unhappily this is all too rare
~ the case. The animal in us speeds
to attack rather than to praise. The
brides antccedents, the cost Of her
frock, the wilted condition Of the flow
erS, the envy of other guests, all the
milttudinous little flaws which make
up society. seize on the tongue. clam
oring to be let out before the brighter
swectcr thoughts, and the chances are
10 to that The speaker would not sum-
mon the control which would check the
unkind comment. but will let it flow on
while the better description is borne
away and UNDECIDED.
RUSEin's immortal advice as to fur
nishnG our hc,ncs might aptly be aD-
piled here, as to so many other parts
of our lives and natures. Before tell
ing anything. we should ask ourselves
three questions: rs it useful?" is i,
necessary" rs II beautiful?" and
nothing which cannot pass all three
tests should be allowed to pass oui
lips.
II we could keep out Of our minds I'll
things which cannot stand this exam
iration. out Of our homes all furnitur,
which would not pass il. and out of our
speech all words and tales which would
would prove for all of u.s.