The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-29

Two busy women of the world whose ex-
periences in life have neither callouSed nor
embittered them recently stumbled upon the
discovery that both were much distressed by
the same problem looming before them with
no discoverable solution. One had recently
been sharply confronted by the revelation
that the happiness of persons dear to her is
being seriously endangered by the tongue OF
thoughtless gossip, not that OF 1nd1nerent
cnlookers but that of those in the confidence
of those they heedlessly are ,endangertng and
who would disclaim Indignantly any I'M
friendly motive. In fact, they would assert
stoutly as great an interest In their friends
as the woman whom their gossip Is distress
The lightning flash that had illumined the
aa e MISS Doreas in ooa
as she CROPPED about nelplessy for practical
suggestion. She saw more clearly and with
sharpened impressiveness that gossip is con-
certed altho largely unconscious and unpre-
mediatated action that can be remedled by
concerted action of different kind OPP
pressed by her ability to stay the forces that
she saw already mischieviously at work upon
the destiny Of her friends, she was too dis
heartened for the time being to feel like
taking up the question of her duty In solving
this vexatious social problem.
With the discovery that Miss Miranda was
struggling with the same question there came
CLEAN of hope, for there Is encouragement
in sympathy and the Judgment and ideas Of
result is that there is a solidly planted and
angosap sassy h,o of ' Ts
of which are expanding much thought on this
One Of the first conclusions reached by the
society is that passive condemnation OF the
prevalence of gossip is nearly If not quite
Without effect, for these women had observed
That the most fragrant offenders in their ac-
quaintance were the very individuals who IN
tho next breath would roll choice morsel
of gossip under their tongues with an eager
ness and gusto utterly discouraging to those
with their eyes open, for 1t indicated state
more difficult to reach even than hypocrisy
q dense inconsistency that nothing but the
severest blow could shake
''This question is one that has been lying
close to the surface in my 'subconcious ego
for, a long time" Miss Dorcas said to her
colleague. II have been gradually collect-
ing d on or the M th hs 5sn
Hwagging tongues for which there was the
smallest possible excuse, and the sum of it is
simply appalling. have set my face against
gossip as I believed in a very positive way,
and have deluded myself into the belief that
I was keeping my own skirts clear of 1t quite
effectually and to do that was something. ]
myself that my attitude was having a re-
'strain1ng influence whore I felt that 1t was
needed. Now, the scales have dropped from
my eyes and I cunt discover shred Of the
influence hoped and rather believed I had.
Even worse haunting fear has been con-
frmed almost unconsciously have been con-
taminated by the gossip that I have thought
s couldn't escape"
Miranda. II know number of nice pleas
ant people whom enjoy in the main, but
their propensity for attending to the affairs OF
everybody else has made me dubious about
the value Of their acquaintance, for feel
as you do that they have belittling effec!
on me- I hate to drop them, for I am at
tached to some of them by ties Of long asso-
citation, but / am seriously contemplating
breaking away from their society. think
shall have to to satisfy my conscience, for
am beginning to feel strongly that deserve
to share the responsibility for their mischief
making propensities, II countenance them
any longer by association with them andI am
quite could not blame anyone for as
Stunning that think and act as they do. There
may be exceptions to the rule that birds
of feather flock together but the world is
too busy to investigate closely and 1t is 8
pretty fair general rule"
r "Do you know, since have been brough
up with a shap turn in this matter" sale
Miss Dorcas. 81 have been horrtded by the
enced by this very gossip that despise and
thought had kept myself free from. Why
my ideas of a number of people have received
bias that I am quite sure Is unfair ant
unwarranted. Hints and illusions that dit
not In The least believe and to whose educa
tion T. had declined to listen, have had al
inevitable effect Whenever these 1innuendo e.
wholly from my mind as unworthy Of notice
but now that have been cross-examinins
myself, find these things have stuck Their,
and have been biting into my estimates O
people like drops of corroding acid. With al
my intention Of being fair minded, / can pu
my finger on at least one case in which
have allowed damaging prejudice Ii
grow without shadow Of actual foundation
II quite took my breath away when it reall.