The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-04-23

! can give you one of the unpleasant
incidents which mentioned In my
sermon.
"A certain young woman in this
town called upon my wife and asked
question which she had no right to
put. II concerned the private affairs
! OF some persons who are friends Of
ours, and my wife could not possibly
make reply which would satisfy the
other woman's curiosity. My wife said
as much.
Now knew II Was True.
"A week later this woman came to
me in my study and made the same
inquiry. said. Your question
touches upon what is tho personal
business of those who are my very
good friends. and I do not feel that I
am at liberty TO answer you
Then instantly she retorted, Then
l know it's true!'
"And L." DR.. Egbert concluded tri.
umphantly. 81 said. You are no lady.
Yes. I wondered as you do what
was that fatal question. But who
knows--if | had asked l, too, might,
have been stigmatized as no lady" So
choking my arrogant curiosity, was
rewarded with another tale OF the
naughtiness wrought by the serpent.s
tongue in Flushing.
"A young woman came to me-" the
minister instanced, with sad story
OF how gossip had disrupted friend
ship. In two weeks she had expected
to pay promised visit to a certain
friend. That very day the latter had
written that she had found her out,
that she never wished to see her face
again The young lady told me that
she was not conscious Of having in
jured her friend by word or act. What
undoubtedly happened was that some
thoughtless remark, harmless in its
context. was isolated by malicious
person and made to sound unklnd 10
the girls friend.
Not Gossip, But Tale Bearing.
But l don't call that sort of thing
gossip" urged. Its tale bearing.
Gossip, OF course. should never be re-
peated to the subject OF 1t. When it's
repeated TO others in q phariasaical.
holier-than-thou tone OF voice / think
it's detestable. But gossip told calmly
dispassionately and with q full sense
OF its comely values helps ono to
better understanding of the human
scene. Besides, IL one can talk about
people. what is left? Shakespeare
ana the musical glasses?"
ut is perfectly proper to talk about
people II you talk about them in the
right way" he explained. There is
plenty OF harmless talk about the af-
fairs OF others which is the very nat
raj result of interest. OF course we
all are interested In those around us,
In what they do and how they appear.
The man or woman who doesn't feel
that nomal interest. or who, having
felt 1t. begins to lose It. ought to see
a doctor. There Is gossip and gossip.
and some OF it is all right"
How do you define the right sort?"
asked. What comments about peo-
pie may be made with propriety"
Many Subjects Permitted.
That part OF their lives which is
not intensely personal and private
may be discussed by their friends.
Their health. their comings and go
ings. their good deeds. their homes
so long as the comments are kindly
may be legitimate subject of CONVEX
sation in their little circle"
and nobody is ever justified in maxi
ing hostile criticism of another"
"On the contrary. there are times
when it is not only permissible, but
obligatory TO say sharp things. II you
see a person who is being deceived by
another. II you have induhitable facts
which show that someone you know
is associating with an undesirable. It
Is your duty to open the eyes OF your
friend or acquaintance. That la q
duty which many avoid because they
fear TO become involved in unpleasant
complications. The obligation is there,
nevertheless"
Men the Worst GOssips.
at may be. but had rather be a
bill collector than an eye opener. BY
comparison. the former is a popular
citizen.
"a widely held Illusion about Cos
SIP" Or. .Esbert continued "is that
the worst gossip is a woman. On the
contrary. believe men are the worst
gossips in the world. The constant
repetition of gossip is. Of course, the
sign of small. petty mind. one lack
ing vital interest in worth while
things. The cultivation of such an
interest is the best way TO overcome
q tendency to gossip. Individual eff