Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-03-10
Gossipinu TONGUES.

That Is an unusual card that Is pub
lished in another column by Mr.. w. o..
Youngblood, in which he threatens to
prosecute somebody for slander unless
they stop their malicious gossip about
his young grandson, and we are inclin-
ed to think that in this matter Mr..
Youngblood will have the full sympa-
thy of all right thinking people.
The facts in the case are about like
this. Some weeks ago the young boy
disappeared from home, to the great
surprise and distress Of his parents.
They knew of no reason why he should
want to leave, because so far as they
were concerned he was happy and con-
tented. Also he had always been a
loving and dutiful son, steady, indus
trious and economical, and that to
them added to the problem.
The distressed father had been ad-
vised to advertise the boy as a means
Of getting him back, and came to The
Enquirer office to see about 1t. The
editor, however, advised that such
cases were more or less frequent, and
that the best way to treat them was to
leave them alone. 1T Is like this" said
the editor: "If that boy has runaway
in his head, and you bring him back,
he will take the first opportunity to go
again, and you will have gained moth
ing. But if you let him alone until he
thinks it all out in the light Of expert
ence he will come home and be the
better for having gone" The father
acceptd >the advice and there was no
advertisement.
During the fathers visit to The En-
quirer office he explained that the boy
had money Of his own at home, and
money in the bank; but he had not
touched his bank account, and he had
taken but little If any Of his other
money.
After remaining away for some days
it appears that the boy thought better
of it, and came home, as was perfectly
natural, because so many other boys
have done the same thing before, and
so many more boys will do the same
thing in the hereafter.
But that was not the end Of 1t. "A
thing Of this kind always sets gossip
ing tongues to wagging, and this case
was no exception. Somebody started
a story to the effect that before leav-
ing the boy had stolen twenty dollars
from his grandparents, Mr.. and Mrs.
w. o. Youngblood, and these most ex-
cellent and venerable people have be-
come very much outraged, not on their
own account, but on account OF their
grandson, whom they love, and whom
they feel has been so cruelty slandered.
1t will be noted from the card pub
lished in another column, that the
grandfather has been very considerate.
If he knows who has originated this
story, or who has helped circulate It,
he already has grounds for slander
suit, which he can prosecute either
civilly or criminally or both, and make
quite serious matter OF 1t Tor some
body. But from the wording OF his
notice, 1t is apparent that he does not
care to do anything Of that kind. He
merely wants the gossips to attend to
their own business, and we feel war,
ranted in suggesting that II they Wlli
learn a little wisdom all at once, that
is what they will do.
What we are saying, however, is not
especially intended as taking up OF the
cudgels in behalf Of Mr.. and Mrs.
Youngblood or their little grandson, as
willing as we are to do so; but what
we are saying is for the public benefit.
Senseless, hurtful gossip is always an
unpleasant thing to deal with; but by
reason Of recent laws on the subject,
those who indulge in it, run very Sc
rious danger Of getting what is coming
to them in the way Of proper punish
ment, and they will do we'll to be care
Il