The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1909-08-19
CONVEX SATlON.

the conversation casually nedrQ, even III
supposedly cultivated circles, does not re-
fleet the enlightenment of the age in which
We live. Learning was never more dlffused
than now. Good literature, the soil in
which ideas are brought forth and material
for rational conversation is produced, was
never before so cheap and abundant. 1t is
the age Of discovery and full of suggestions
for the active mind; yet the talk of the
masses, to very great extent, is on low
plane in form and quality, and is given
over for the most part to pointless gossip.
Perhaps the abundance of printed matter
has encouraged the habit of relying upon
writer's to do our thinking for US, and we
turn to gossip, innocent or otherwise, as a
relief from too much application to books
and newspapers. The love of gossip seems
to be abiding.
Unfortunately, gossip is not always
merely frivolous and guileless. 1t is apt to
merge into scandal, calumny and SANDER.
''Many wretch has rid on hurdle who
had done less mischief than utterers of
forged tales, carriers of scandal and clip
pers of reputations.' The law may lay
it's heavy hand on the slanderer, but much
malicious gossip is INDUCED in on the safe
side of the shadowy line which divides
amusing tittle-tattle from tale-bearing.
There are some insidious offenses and
social misdemeanors the common law and
Mo rt,t,,to oop,ot oh nj munich noon
Swift says we may convey libel in frown
and wink reputation down. The ducking
stool and other disgraceful punishments
were once the fate of the scandal monger.
These obsolete penalties, SO far as the
record goes, were chiefly applied to women;
but the male scandal monger has always
been extensively in evidence. Doctor South
placed the tale-bearer and the tale-hearer
in the same category, and declared that
both 6 should be hanged up, back to back,
one by the tongue and the other by the ear"
Since the most interesting study for
mankind is man, conversation, in mixed
assemblies at least, is likely to deal with
persons and to become more or less gossipy
in character. If a company be composed
exclusively of philosophers, the talk might
perhaps resolve about Rants "Critique of
Pure Reason or other reconcile theme.
In company composed of persons of vari-
Gus capacities the question is whether the
conversation shall be keyed to the highest
intelligences in the assembly or to the
lowest; or whether it shall be suited to the
average intelligence. The question is
usually settled by resorting to topics which
fall easily within the understanding of the
least learned.
The most profound persons like to relax
little at times. Emerson relates that he
knew scholar of some experience in camps
who said that he liked, in barroom, to tell
few coon stories and put himself on a
good footing with the company. Then he
could be silent as he chose. ga scholar
does not wish to be always pumping his
brains; he wants gossip" We inveigh
against the gossip and the tattler, but they
are often agreeable companions and en-
tertainers, and that is the reason why they
are tolerated, and perhaps encouraged, in
most assemblies.
"Gossips and tale-bearers who supply
the tittle-tattle of the neighborhood, flat
terng you to your face and laughing at
you behind your back, are welcome as
agreeable guests in all companies. Though
you know it will be your turn next, yet for
the sake of the immediate qualification you
are contented to pay your share of the
public tax on character, and are better
pleased with the falsehoods that never
reach your ears than with the truths that
other, less complaisant and more sincere,
utter to your face-so short.sighted and
willing to imposed upon is our self-love."
The indulgence in small and vapid talk,
which must almost necessarily include
mere gossip, is explained by the disposition
to avoid subjects as to which there exists
difference of opinion. Heated political
discussion, for instance, would obviously
mar the proprieties of the occasion. Re-
lgious controversies would be out of place.
There are uplifting subjects whose discus
sion might not be disturbing, but the effort
is to find some ground for conversation
which is not contentious. An English
writer philosophically observes that society
answers its purpose if it simply permits
many different people to meet without
clashing, and the purpose of it's conven-
tons is to avoid collision; "and while the