Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-11-22
ABoLIsHING THE GoSSIPS.
Strenuous Measures to be Tried In
Germany Against SeandaImonser.

pears to be "verboten," officialdom in
the person Of lone Burgomeister has
at last invaded the most sacred right
of women-gossip.
All Germany Is looking askance at
the town of Hattersheim, in Hesse,
apprehensive of the widening waves
of authority that would undertake to
bride the tongues Of the fair.
AS for Hattersheim under its sud-
den afflction Of deterrent law, 1t ap-
pears to be getting along very well,
thank you, and is enjoying a peace
and freedom from envies, jealousies
and backbitings that no community
has known since human records
were mixed at the tower Of Babel.
Neighbor now greets neighbor with
a peaceable CUTE Morgen;" hus-
bands come home from their business
with appetites destined to remain un-
marred by recitals Of daily quarrels;
and there has been a marked dim
mutton in the number Of alley
fights that have landed their partici-
pants in the local courts.
The spirit Of peace abides, because
the ndlleQ IlSI VI NeTDoteu HdS
come down with a bang on all scan
dalmongering.
The United States, in every village
and city ward, produces its own crop
of retailers Of gossip and maligners
Of their neighbors. Where the In
comes are low, the more dignified
move and the less dignifed are la
BILE to fight out on the spot. Where
the incomes are greater and litiga-
tion appears to be a luxury not too
high for the cost Of living, the COM
munity is diverted with a libel suit.
Whatever the climax Of rows, and
whatever their beginnings. he would
be a hardy mayor or magistrate in
deed who would dare call to account
the whole community. The common
law here has to meet every individ-
ual emergency, from the quelling OF
the familiar scold to the extremes Of
two pairs Of black eyes.
But in Germany vested authority
doesn't hesitate to command peace
by wholesale. On that basis. the
Burgomeister Of Hattersheim proceed
ed, and he has issued proclamation
that is as full Of observation and phil
osophy as 1t is of authority.
Prosecutions for libel and SLAM
der" declares the stern Burgomeis-
ter have attained of late great pro-
portions in certain section OF our
city. Bitter enmities and litigation
costs that amount to heavy financial
losses are among the consequences"
He remarks that the cause Is US
ually the same:
THE men are hard at work, while
the women fritter away their time
in gossiping and quarreling, the chill.
dren's training being neglected and
the household suffering for lack Of
care. When the bread winner comes
home and the days events are un-
truthfully told to him, he must be-
take himself, as the protector Of his
angry wife, to the police or lawyer
or to the court Of arbitration"
On such persons, remarks the Bur-
gomeister, the teachings are wasted
which require a woman to occupy
herself at her own fireside, scorn
scandalmongers and seek only to pro-
vide comfortable home for her hus-
band and her children. There is no
true democratic happiness with them.
Therefore," concludes the Burgo-
meister, solemnly warning all and
sundry who are offenders, poor re-
lief will henceforth be given in ex-
|ceptional cases only where people
have involved themselves in prose-
cution for scandal. The police, be-
sides, have been instructed to COM
all landlords and tenants against
them"
Thus far no other Burgomeister In
Germany has initiated Hattersheim's
executive, mainly because the distinct
novelty Of his official course demands
that German conservatism restrain
the devouring rush Of German au-
|thority. 1t may happen that, after
the first silence Of astonishment at
his temerity, the good women OF
Hattersheim will dispute his right to
enforce the regulations he proposes.
While the power Of the Burgo-
meister is very extensive and can, in
emergency, be supplemented with all
the force requisite to make 1t opera
tive, the moral force represented by
a community Of recalcitrant house
wives is something which even Ger
many's system Of things "verboten'
must pause before.
And thus far, no man who has lived
has been able to check the worlds
flow Of gossip. in which scandal in
variably plays so large part.
Preachers have delivered thousands
Of sermons against 1t, and women
themselves have organized to compel
their 1rlenQS anu HelSHuOls W ultei
only words Of sweetness and light.
But, somehow or other, envy has al
ways managed to find its way into
the councils Of the most cultured, and
backbiting has followed as naturally
as the curl Of scorn pursues the bon
net fresh from Paris
Hattersheims Burgomeister has,
however, one august ally-the kaiser
in the general spirit Of his homily,
and critics of current German affairs
profess to see in the proclamation re-
Gently issued in the obscure little
town in Hesse the emulation by minor
officialdom of the imperial sermons
defining woman's place in the house
hold.
But even the kaiser has not had
nerve to try to shut off gossip. II the
Hessian town prove that scandal
mongers can be abolished, the daring
Burgomeister who undertook the
difficult job stands large chance of
advancement-Phil North
American.
Thinkinq In Millions.