The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-02-17
TWO GOOD RULES.

Inc feaIineSS WIFI WHICH UOSC OI us are
willing to believe the wors. about our
neighbor is a rather curious expression of
our natural weakness. We profess to re-
spect him and even admire him for his
many pleasing qualities, but once gossip
directs its batteries upon him and he is
made the target for unkind criticism we do
not always back up our avowed opinion
with our actions. 1t is easy to give ear to
gossip of any kind; for some unaccounta-
able reason it seems entirely naturnl for
US to take certain sort of satisfaction in
hearing Of the misfortunes and weaknesses
of others and to believe evil report whether
it be true or not. Of course, there are
many cases where for reasons of our own
we are steadfast in our loyalty to those
who may be criticised and decline to give
credence to what we choose to consider is
only idle gossip. Such course is only to
be expected from true friend, even though
it sometimes requires rare courage to prove
friendship. OF course such an attitude
cannot apply to all with whom we come in
contact aud it is, generally speaking, only
where our interests are not very deeply
rooted that we become careless OF the rights
of others. We do not always bear in mind
the fact that We owe certain debt to all of
our fellow beings, not necessarily to those
who are close and dear to US, but to all
who by any chance may cross our paths.
Unfortunately, while gossi itself may be
idle and unnecessary, the incident upon
which it is founded is sometimes true to
degree, but even so that is no reason why
we should increase its unpleasant aspects
by spreading the rumor. 1t does not help
matters for US to give attention to the idle
whisperings we may hear from time to time
about about those whose lives may have
touched ours at certain points; it works
untold harm for US to repeat the evil tidings
no matter how tempted we may be to yield
just once and retail to others some spicy
bit of news
1t was DIR. Henry Van Dyke who said that
there are two good rules which ought to
be written on every heart-never to believe
anything bad about anybody unless you
positively know it to be true; never to tell
even that unless you feel that it is abso-
lutely necessary, and that God is listening
while you tell it," The very thought that
God is listening to everything we say is
enough TO strike terror to US at times, yet
we who believe in His omnipresence surely
cannot dare to deny its truth. If we could
really carry that thought about with US we
would spare ourselves not only the NORTH.
cation OF realizing how many unworthy
utterances we make on very small provo
cation, but the unnecessary and extremely
doubtful entertainment of listening to fool
ISL gossip and wiful SANDER. One OF our
great troubles, however, is the difficulty we
experience in applying spiritual solutions
10 our worldly problems. Wekeep the two
separated as far as possible and it is only
when we have time for reflection that we
begin to realize that it is not impossible for
us to bring into our everyday affairs q
breath at least of the higher existence
which, after all, is our chief source of
sustenanee. We may think such an un-
dertaking impracticable, and so it is to a
certain degree, but when we face the
knowledge that God is aware of everything
that we think or say or do it is not so i'm
probable that we can, in small way, inject
something of the more spiritual side of our
natures into the performance of many of
our most ordinary duties and profit largely
by doing so.
The unkind gossip that is poured into