Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-03-17

zard that preys upon human happi-
ness Like all other vultures, which
you who talk scandal over your dainty
tea cups or white washed fences, as
the case may be. are, you heartlessly
strip bare the lives of persons, some
of whom you know, the majority Of
whom you merely know of, without
mercy, you flay them, and leave them
lying in the quagmire of unhappinesa
and wretchedness, into which they
have been plunged by idle, poisonous
tongues.
What is that to you, you askf
Nothing, personally, perhaps; and
true to the dross. which is in all hu~
man natures, more or less, that which
can not affect you or injure you per-
sonally, you suffer no qualms about
discussing. Your neighbor? Poohl
You shrug your shoulders as you pass
the house Of one of them, and do not
hesitate to whisper behind your hand
some toothsome bit Of gossip about
that person to the neighbor across the
way, and the neighbor across the way
being no better than you, relig-
iOusly passes on to some other neigh-
Dor what you have told him. "They
say" and IL heard" are two phrases
which should have been copyrighted
before they were allowed free usage.
They are usually the foundations for
the House of Scandal"
Gossip Is the submarine OF express
sion," continued the Snowy Haired
Woman, looking around the little
group, and speaking in an earnest, low
voice, born OF deep conviction. "1t
constantly menaces not only your
neighbor, but yourself as well. It Is
no respector OF persons. You, who
gossip, are conversational sneaks. You
are Mexican I'm your methods OF at
tack. for without apparently any con-
sciences, you stab in the back those
whom, ofttimes, you merely know by
name. Suppose what you have heard
IS true? Does 1t make It any truer to
repeat e.? Be charitable with your
neighbor. Unless you can say some
thing good about him OF her, don't say
anything at all. It is both wise and
we'll TO keep some things TO yourself
Idle gossip, which comes to you, 10
one.
Il would not be afraid TO wager"
added the Snowy Haired Woman,
that, were statistics to be taken on
the question, It wiuld be found that
one-half Of the hearts in the world
that have been broken, and more than
that number Of the lives and homes
that have been wrecked and made
desolate. have resulted from the sub
tie, and "smokeless powder" guns OF
gossip and scandal. which have been
fred. in the majority Of cases. over the
tea cups or back fences"
Silence fell over the little group.
Janet nervously crumbled her tea
cake. The Blonde and the "Frenchy"
girl began to fasten their furs while
the Snowy Haired Woman slipped into
her great fur coat.
Il hope you have not minded my
talklnk to you as I have" she said.
but somehow, I Just couldn't stand
seeing you poisoning your sweet,
young natures with a lot of unhealthy
gossip. Am l forgiven she asked, in
a most bewitching and charming man
ner.
You're a darling" said the Blonde,
squeezing her hand, 1--WE deserved a
good talking to. You know the trou-
bic IS. none OF us ever stop to think OF
the harmfulness Of such conversations,
but / know 1 shall never again say
any mean thing about a person with
out remembering what you have Just
said. I'm even strong now for organ
izing an Anti-Gossip Club. What do
you say. girls?" she asked. turning to
her two youthful companions.
'Fine!" they chorused, only" add
ed the Brunette, as an after thought,
Il am afraid we couldn't get enough
members to make a quorum"
At which naive remark even the
Snowy Haired Woman laughed.