Evening star., 1902-03-08
ROADS TO HAPPINESS
THE EVILS OF GOSSIP DE-
PLoRED.
And the Merits Of the Con-
trary Virtue
Shown.

Written for The Evening Star by Grace Dune
Buylan.
81 am sure / have no Ill feeling toward
the people abuse" said pretty Lady Tea
zle. And that is the way with many other
pretty ladies who talk about their neigh
bors. There is no resemblance in the world
between gossip and slander. The first is
the natural spice in the dish OF life. The
other is venomous poison. The gossip!ng
woman Is apt to be good d-natured and with
a talent for mimicry: and l have rarely
known one who either meant or made
harm for any one.
Conversation without personalities may
be blameless; but It is not warranted to
keep any one awake. We like to hear
about other peoples tricks and manners.
And II We say we do not are humougs.
every one OF US. You say: when hear
| q person speak OF the odd ways or dress
| OF speech of an absent one 1 know she will
say the same things about me the minute
my back is turned"
To be sure she will. and that is what
| makes 1t so beautifully fair. She will not
be likely to say the same things IL you are
| In the least original. Maybe you will say
something bright: IL you do she Will repeat
~ giving you full credit and maybe adding
| & word or so OF real appreciation. / have
Kiown gossips to do that. Or you may, In
word for the man who has stumbled or the
| woman who has made mistake. And II
| is the gossip whose tongue trembes with
eagernesS to tell it-perhaps to the very
ones to whom 1t may be a trumpet note or
new hope and fresh cheer.
| l knew a woman who gathered UP all the
news Of neighborhood as unfailingly
1 magnet gathers particles of steel But
f$here was this difference. Everything she
Iheard passed through her mind and came
ibut purified and sweet. People called her
a liar. Maybe she was If 50 there is
1 a liar standing in the glory Of the throne
OF God. For she went about healing wounds
of hate with her soft words as sword cuts
| are cured with the leaves OF violets; and
| soothing stings and insults v ith the ten
| derest untruths. have seen her flutter like
| dove between enemies. Translating their
bitter words into kindly messages and
| slipping away when they came To think
| so well of each other that they would clasp
| hands. And a tea party sewing circle
| she attended was always twittcring with
/ gossip infused with charity toward all. She
was a little. drab woman. with pale. near
| sighted eyes. But ! believe her way to
| heaven was paved with roses springing
| UPWARD from the lies that she told.
| Men love to hear gossip, and they are
nearly all retailers of 1t. Show the
| woman who refuses to talk about people
| in lively way. and | viii show you the
/ one left to her own company. The practice
| has been condemned because IL has been
| regarded as near Of kin TO slander But
| the leayen of good nature Will always keep
l
to be trifie unkind. a pleasant word will
| divert it as surely as an arrow may change
| the course of an avalanche.
| friend Of mine, Mrs. Allen, Is noted for
| her dinner parties. She has the tact and
| art to harmoniZe dishes and people.
On this evening of which | speak a young
/ governor from one Of the beautiful south
| ern states was the guest of honor and the
! girls were preening like paradise birds
ready to fly into his garden l do not
mean all of them. Mildred had never
| learned to preen. She was only invited
| down at the last minute. when Mrs. Allen
| had telegram from one OF her expected
| guests. and rushed UP to her governess to
| say:
| If you have a muslin dress. put It on
| and come down. Mrs. Rose cannot be
| here. and l must not ask the governor
| to be one of thirteen at table He would
take It as an omen he would never have
| second term"
So the girl dressed to dine with the dis
| t1nguished guest; and she looked very
| sweet and young with a rose in her hair
| and others I'm her cheeks, and her eyes
shining with the joy of living.
She did not say much: but she listened;
| ana that for a woman is better, much
better But after a while, when one man
had been talked about great deal. and
| had begun to be criticised some, she said
/ quite brightly and innocently:
| There really must be something very
| fine about Mr.. Blank because we are all
| so much interested in him"
THAT is proof beyond doubt" said the
| young statesman; and in a moment the
rest had discovered a dozen good points in
| the subject but moment before trembling
| to his downfall.
| A month later the governor and govern
| ess discussed the incident
Il think / began to love you, then, when
| you spoke sweetly for that stranger
| he said. But, of course, | cannot expect
| that you found any interest In me at that
time. Did you?"
Moo" she admitted reluctantly
But now," he urged. eagerly, noting the
light in her hair, the glow in her checks
and the blue eyes, yelled. but shining.
"Now-"
"Ah." she whispered. "that-that is
different matter"
perfectly safe way Of taking out grease