The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-04-08
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
Little Foxes.
FOURTH LETTER

He is curious little pest that glides
OUT of the kitchen or parlor to get some
thing TO satisfy his voracious appetite
and he begins to bite in earnest when
the friendly gossips gather about the
fire for social chat. His ears are
standing straight and his eyes sparkle
with delight as the latest is confidently
rehearsed. Cool and uncharitable IN
situations are dropped and cruel re-
Elections are passed that are only calcu-
lated to lacerate the feelings and de-
stroy the happiness of the innocent
person who is arraigned at the bar of
scandal. How carefully the bite is
guarded. The tongue, with real salts
faction is rolled over the sweet morsel
and the friendly gossip desiring to share
her pleasure with others glides out and
whispers it to the next door neigh bor
and often through the day Miss Glib is
seen talking to Miss ChatterDox, who
in turn conveys the secret to Mrs.
Gadabout, who informs her husband
Mr.. Tell-Tale and in a remarkably short
time the scandal is known and talked
about in every house. Human nature
makes humiliating exhibitions of its de-
pravity IN It's greedy credulity concern
ing the reports of errors and shortcom-
ings of good men. 1t delights the world
ling to see the Christian fall or to hear
of it, and he derives comfort in the
thought that after all there isn't any
difference between men however much
they may profess. But people will talk,
1t Is said and of course the topics relate
to the subjects they are most familiar
with for 'out of the abundance of the
heart the mouth speaketh. The world
is full of gossip and the reason is that
those who indulge in 1t don't know
enough about other subjects to talk in
diligently on them.
The moral aspects of gossip are ex-
ceedingly evil for it is void of charity
and constantly breaks the golden rule,
while those who engage in hawking and
talking about the p rsonal affairs of
their neighbors are meddlers and busy
bodies. who are not only inficting in
jury on others, but hurting themselves.
What vines are spoiled by this fox!
What fires are kindled by this sin, and
what sweet fountains are embittered
by it! 1t is detestable practice that
sows the seeds of social discord.
1t is shameful practice that be-
speaks either righteousness or ignor-
ance or stupidity on the part of the
gossip. But in all gossip there is not
malignity for good natured people
sometimes talk about others merely for
talks sake or in commentator of them.
To talk for mere talks sake is a serious
mistake that can be cured and the anti
dote for 1t is culture.
Let them seek to store the mind with
q, wled.e, g cultivate the habit of
reading and of close observation and
they will have abundant topics for con
versation.
Let Christians ne so full of charity
and the spirit of the Master that instead
of parading the faults of others they
may magnify their virtues and talk of
the wonderful love of the Saviour and
of the manifold mercies with which the
ord hos orOrrypo1 thai- l;,,os
Their is an old adage which says: "A
gossip IN village is like a viper in a
bed and another saws, "A gossip is
the Lucifer match of the village" Miss
or MIR. Gossip. for it is of both genders,
is forever setting the village on blaze
with the tongue, which like the one
mentioned by the Apostle James is
''set on fire of hell" The one who re-
ceiYes is about as bad as the gossip,
for if there were none to hear tales
there would soon be none to carry them.
What's the use of spending good
money in advertising paper. Tell the
gossips and it will fly abroad. The
Tattler" has a wide circulation.
The long tongue can cause more mis-
cry than big fin. 1t thrives on false
hood for it could not long ply its trade
if it were restricted to truth. Its in
ventive faculty is therefore well de-
velOped, A modern easayist defines
gossip as putting two and two to-
gether and making five of them" If
he had said twenty-five he would have
been nearer the mark.
Quaint old John Plowman says,
"Gossips and frogs drink and croak. Is
it tea the gossips drinks, their gossip is
tedious. Do they take spirits? There
is an evil spirit in them"
He also gives this bit of good advice,
Trust not horses heel, a dogs tooth.
or a gosslps tongue. Trust the last the
least. Mad dogs and kicking horses
are better than slanderous tongues. :"
When three know it, all will very soon.
One man can hold his tongue but he
can't hold the tongues of the other two.
If any of my readers feel themselves
affronted at my plain speech, or are
disposed to resent what say, look well
to your ways lest you be found guilty of
your own confession and so pass SEN
tonoa ,,no,, tITb, 4,