The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-03-31
THE GOSSIPLNG WOMAN"
BY MISS VIOLET GONZALEZ.

a writing this essay hope that
ms not incur the displeasure of my
SEX, or have them charge me with
lack of refinement and good breeding
for expressing myself with perfect cam
dor and frankness. and from the emo
tons that spring directly from the
heart ] do not wish to condemn too
harshly or create enemies and feel
almost sure that those Of you who read
this impartially will realize the signin-
canoe, the truth, and even become !n-
terested in the words that they are
going to portray most correctly a GER
tain phase OF the feminine mind that
has figured prominently in the mental
makeup Of the past and present woTn
an. II Is a phase, however. that we
hope sincerely may not continue with
the future woman until the last vestiSe
OF the human race has plunged itself
into oblivion
also wish to make 1t plainly un
derstood that am speaking Of wom-
an on very broad, general terms and of
no one as an individual.
women take such special delight in
gossip? Are there not other things
to talk about? Things Of greater
weight and importance?, Who Is it,
may / ask that invented the words
Idle Gossip? Was gossip ever idle?
1 should like to inform the person who
FIRST pronounced these words that gos-
SIP. while we regret to say it, is one of
the most evil and also one Of the most
Industrious occupations that has ever
taken possession OF the mind
What 10 Her Aim2
~ What are the motives that prompt
one woman to launch her cruel, in
sinuating attacks against another?
What is her gain, her satisfaction,
nh nj
Have you not observed that II Is usual
ly the beautiful. attractive and intel
Hgept woman who Is made the target
of such remarks, and that it is also
this'woman who wins the greatest
amount of respect and admiration from
the opposite sex? 1t is just here that
the trouble begins: that is, where the
single woman is concerned, and I can
not but believe that such remarks are
actuated by jealousy, envy, Ignorance
and illiteracy.
In the course of my associations
with women have frequently heard it
said that certain women were flirts.
Is II convincing evidence of q woman
being an unprincipled fiirt because she
receives the attentions Of four or five
male companions at the same time?
Is IL impossible for a woman to be
brilliant and entertaining enough to
inspire and hold the respect and friend
shin OF each OF these men! In my
opinion 1t is greatly to her credit and
/ have known instances where just
such mutual friendships existed for ten
or twelve years and may even con-
tinue for lifetime. and it Is bad taste
for anyone to infer that a woman. If
by her magnetism and cheerful dis
position attracts a number of admirers
that she Is necessarily q fiirt3 An
other error common to the prudish
woman is that animation and vivacity
is sign that she would be guilty Of
any Improperly. It is not necessary
to Dc shy and demure to be honest
A Gossipins Woman.
Is there anything more disagreeable
or unhappy than a gossiping woman
One could not experience a keener
pain or disappointment than that of
having a woman whom you had hith-
erto loved and praised and whose
kindness OF heart you had learned to
believe in completely iTnpart to you
some remarks that bore down or ruined
the reputation OF a good woman. II
women as a rule would look for the
good qualities Of her sex instead OF the
little defects there would be more mu-
tual friendship between them and they