The Washington herald., 1908-04-26
THE SOCIAL ARBITER
A Little Lecture on Scandal and Some Error
That Should Be Avoided.

guarding against vulgar scandal. with
sedulous vigilance. Tt is far easier TO
prevent than to rectify."
Let US prevent them by ali means. Let
all OF those who have the welfare Of
society at heart, who want TO see its
tongue improved. its standards raised.
turn deaf ear 10 scandal The ped
ding of scandal is. after all, a mere
habit, cloak to hide the poverty OF the
intelleets Of the vapid and frivolous or
bait offered by the ugly and unattrac-
tive 10 secure attention. Scandal is, too
a medium for those who wish to be con-
sidered bright and witty to show their
cleyerness. and those who hunger for
notoriety do not hesitate to-
Convey & libel in a frown.
And wink a reputation down.
A writer of the day has said that this
age win hold les own for inveracity
among all the ages of the past but it
bids fair 20 eclipse the ages Of Tiberius
and Nero in its reckless assaults upon
reputation. That men should deliberately
and day after day defame public men in
the public prints has ceased to surprise
anybody. Frequency blunts the edge of
murder. even. But we cannot help
thinking that this age will finally pass
away, and be remembered and referred
TO pretty much In the same fashion as
the ear OF witchcraft is remembered and
referred 10. Let Us hope so. at any rate;
for the time Of the mlllennim will be near
at hand truly when the poisonous tree
of scandal IS felled and its roots de-
stroyed.
In this connection it is well to say a
word about the ert OF speech. for many
vicious bit of scandal has been started
by the ignorant and improper use Of
words. Miss Hersey, in her book, ITO
Girls" tells pathetic story of a young
clergyman who was pursued by a per-
sistent rumor that he was addicted to
the use Of alcohol. He ignored the scan
dal. but It came to him from so many
sources that he felt compelled 70 trace
it. Before he could discover its source.
however, he was practically asked to
resign by his parish and was at last
forced TO do so. Some time afterward
this report which had such a disastrous
effect upon the career Of a good and
worthy young man, was found to have
originated with a woman VINO had sat
at the same table with him at one time
and who declared, in telling Of II after
ward. that the young parsOn was an
awful drinker." meaning that he drank
great deal of water with his meals.
Now. II this woman had learned the art
of speaking her native tongue plainly
and correctly many people would have
been spared much misery. ana one espe-
cially cruel hardship and injustice
Many such instances could be cited.
but none, perhaps. more tragic. English
Is not the most musical, but 1t is the
richest known language, and lends IT
self to every shade of expression, which
makes Il the more unwarranted that 1t
should be debased and mlsused by those
who should know better. The use of
slang, so prevalent in our day, the lurid
adteetives that are interjected into every
phrase, impoverish rather than enrich
speech IF speech is "the picture OF the
mind" as the proveTb says. then some
minds must be extremely ugly, III pro-
portloned. lame and miserable and no
efforts should be spared TO improve both
mind and speech. It would not be de-
sirable TO return 20 the stiited speech
used by the characters Of Mr. Samuel
Richardson. but what can one say for
a society that allows its most popular
members to speak in some such wise as
this? my, but we had q ripping time.
Seven old pals Of US out 10 kill We
were going some, and We brought down
our game" A low and gentle voice, sim
pie and elegant language bespeak the
weIl-bred gentlewoman; If one has no
desire TO be this, let her remain faithful
to her slang and Inaccurate use of words;
otherwise let her cultivate ease correct
ness and precision in the use Of her
mother tongue.