The sun., 1918-07-02
THE ScANDALMONGER.
Bad Enough in Peace, He or She II
Much Worse In War.

Bad Enough In Peace. He or She Is
Much Worse In War.
To THE EDITOR OF THE suN-Sir: The
world IL to-day loaded with trouble and
sorrow. The strain OF that, as physi-
clans know, Ia showing itself in many
ways Nothing is more important than
that nervous energy should be conserved
In every way possible, and that any
one or anything that increases this
strain upon people is Objectionable for
every reason.
Tho anxiety ana stress upon the men
and especially women at this time are
vastly greater than unthinking people
imagine, and II the war continues. as
It probably will. for two or three years
longer. the tax upon the reserves Of HUI
man endurance will be proportionately
Increased.
For this reason as well as for many
others any one who unnecessarily in
creases the sum OF mental suffering
Is an enemy to the public veal and
should be dealt with in the most dras-
ito way. Attacks under the best con-
ditions upon the characters Of other
people. idle gossip, Islander, suspicion
and misconstruction of motives are
fruitful sources of such trouble max
ing. especially when these lead to at
lacks upon public men and those who
are doing the worlds work. There are
those whose aim in life seems to be
TO fill their souls with poison of this
kind and pour 1t into the public mind.
often in regard to overburdened public
men, making them less efficient than
they otherwise would be, and creating
conditions that lower capacity for pro-
ducing results in the complicated struc-
ture OF human society.
Such attacks are often the result OF
neurotic or salacious minds, or the out
come Of the irresponsible talk Of mali
cious people who do not realize the
extent Of the evil they are doing.
They arise in many cases from a de-
sire for power on the part Of those who
lack 1t and are Jealous Of those who pos
sess capacity Of leadership. or It Is the
result OF conceit in little minded people
who think to achieve greatness by be-
Hitting the lives OF valuable men and
women.
Here Is a chance for the church to
find It's opportunity for a larger service
than It has yet entered in this time OF
stress. It might. II II would. through.
out the whole country create a spirit
such that this form Of trouble making
would be destroyed. and IL 1t does this
one thing It would save itself from the
| reputation that It as an institution is moi
doing its share.
II is sometimes the result OF false
conceptions Of liberty and democracy
manifested In attempts to break dowr
the orderly authority OF the administra.
ton of educational or other public foun,
dations.
1t is liable to appear In abnormal and
overexcitable women who look at things
from a personal point Of view until the.
become morbid and suspect men Of thai
Of which they never dreamed. and who
then confide their dangerous subjective
impressions and imaginngs to men and
| women who are all too willing. not &c
say eager, to listen to them, and who
| instead OF expressing and correcting
these neurotic individuals and theil
harmful notions. lead them on into still
further manifestations OF their danger
Gus tendencies. and who then whisper
to their neighbors what they have
heard, creating often the most serious
conditions causing scandals and sus.
picions against public men Of unblem.
ished characters
Unfortunately there Ia a certain typs
OF clergyman who lends himself to this
sort Of thing, and In place of suppress
ing II as he should, develop. BY his so.
| called CONFIDENTIAL talks" A condition
that has led most cruelty TO MANY a
domestic tragedy and a terrible lessen.
ing of the usefulness Of valuable and
noble men. Unfortunately there are
many so-called -pious" men and womer
who help on this condition, and in day,
like these, when peoples feelings are
seriously wrought upon. have a mower
they would not have under normal con
ditons.
The harm that is done by this is be
yond all estimate. as those whose pro
feeslon has to do with mental condi
tons from medical point Of view
could show. Here Is field where san,
and high minded people can render =
service especially az times like this.
The person who deliberately evolve.
such n condition in others is nothinf
less than a criminal and there ought Il
be ways of dealing with him as a persor
UNIT TO be at liberty.