The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1917-02-22
THE GOSSIPMONGER
Especial by the Editor)

Gossipmonger, the most abominable
specie Of the human family. In ply
sical aspect the Gossipmonger is not
distinguishable from other human
beings, except that he or she has an
ever wiggling tongue, serpentine
might say, more deadly than the
sting of the rattler, and about as
much brain as clam, with due apol-
ogy to the clam; for the clam never
says a word about his neighbors.
The Gossip lives and makes his
habitat exclusively in civilized coun-
tries; for the Zulu Kaffir and the
Bashi Bazouk Of Africa, and even
the missing link, the Bushman of
the wilds of Australia, never tell lies
about their neighbors and drag the
good name of neighbor through
the mire Of infamy; they have not,
as yet, stopped down to the neither
most hell Of social degradation, as
some hypocrites, who put on sancti-
monious and "holier than thou" airs.
The Gossip feeds on scandal; he
or she relishes scandal; lives and
thinks scandal. He or she is ever
suspicious of neighbors being guilty
of some act of depravity or immoral
ity of which he or she is actually
guilty. And thus we see the Gossip
going about in a snealty, cowardly
way, accusing other people of acts
that cucumber his or her own black
conscience.
The Creator has created Man in
His own image, and Man is His mas
terpiece, but the Gossip is the prod
uct of vile thinking and perchance
the product Of immoral and deprav-
ed living. An abortion and abomin-
alton; and instrument of the devil;
the elimination Of all that is sneaky,
cowardly and depraved q.
None but coward and q black
guard will strike in the dark or in
the back. Even a rattlesnake will
give warning before he strikes, but
the Gossipmonger makes a speciality
of this method of attacking those
whose confidence he or she has OBJ
tained, by putting on a mask of
friendship, only to betray them with
a lash of his or her venomous
tongue. Judas Iscariot is a saint in
n n a ri mit hD ciyn
for there is no record in sacred or
profane history that he had ever de-
famed the good name and character
of his Master by talking behind His
back and telling nasty lies about
Him. The Gossipmonger, however,
should follow Judas example by re-
penting and going out to some lonely
isolated tree, and there hang himself
so as the casual passerby might not
be polluted by his or her foul car
rion.
1t has been held that virtue is the
most sacred gift of woman and many
are the instances where woman has
given up life rather than lose vir-
tue. Men have given up their lives
| for their honor. Put the virtue and
purity of a woman into doubt, and
you have deprived her of the most
sacred possession. Likewise rob a
| man Of his honor among his fellow
| men and you have deprived him of
a possession which he holds dearest;
the very essence that makes life
worth while. The thief may steal
your earthly possessions, but he does
so to benefit himself materially by
an article of value, and l do not see
where stealing the good name and
reputation Of anyone can benefit the
thief, the Gossipmonger. The mur-
dcrer may take your life. but when
you are dead, those whom you loved
will not be obliged to hide their
faces in shame in contemplation of
your memory.
| 1t is an axiom, that hope being
gone. all is gone; and the same rule
holds good concerning ones honor
and good name. which once gone
cannot be regained nor returned.
Has any of this foul-mouthed coterie
considered this? Have they ever ap-
piled the Golden Rule, laid down by
Zoroastcr centuries ago. DO unto
others as you would have them do
unto you?"
Now, honestly, you who burn in
cense at the shrine of the god Cos
sip: Do you honestly believe that
your neiphbor is so depraved that
NY nasty and scandalous story
spread about him is true? Do you
honestly believe that defaming
words coming from your slanderous
land dirty mouths are the truth, the
whole truth and nothing but the