South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-10-18
THE HABIT or GOSSIP.

one Of the worlds most famous evangelists whose
rover u speech and fervor have gained thousands
upon thousands Of converts. letter TO New
York newspapers apologizlng to the wife Of Mayor
IIyIan for scattering unpleasant concerning
her
Somebody sometime. some place had told him that
the mayors wife Is HlIterate and nl-bred and that
when the queen Of Belgium visiting here. she
had replied 70 one OF her guests comments by say
ing, Queen. YOU said a mouthfuL"
The story had many versions as it travelled its wild
way from mouth to mouth The Prince OF Wales and
the King Of Belgium were substituted for the queen
in some of the repetirons
The evangelist heard the story and admitted that.
without knowIsrge OF the facts or any acquaintance
wirh' Hylan. ne had repeated it and sent it on
its way.
lie now is paying. in humiliation. for yielding to
one of the most vicious habits that afict mankind
habit that brings more sorrow. unhappiness.
more distress than drink or drugs.
The idle are its easiest victms-the idle and the
jealous who seek this form Of cOncealing their own
inferiorities.
That Is the reason that the prominent-the rich.
the powerful. the celebrities OF and screen.
those in positions to excite envy-are most often sub
jects of wild tales that have foundation
But no strata Of society is exempt The colored
washer woman may tell her neghbors that her rival
has peen discharged and Celebrates with suggestion
that things have been missing" repeated that
the other woman has been caught stealing and be-
fore the story gets under full sway. neighbors hear
that the is in jail
Unhappy wives. with suggestive lifting Of the
brows reveal TO friends that the hus-
band OF a mutual acquaintance Is rather gay and
wonders about that girl he has in his office.
on its way the story speeds and when some kind
oHNo4ff
story has all the circumstance goes make for
tragedy.
The beaten professional rnan-for gossps are male
as well as female-suggests that a successful
brother is engaged in something Off color 1t Is
red along elaborated, enlarged and distOrted-until
its originator would not recognize the story his
own were it TO BACK to him
AHentists explain the habit Of gossip a mild
form Of insanity of crime and social science
trace TO it a multitude of tragedies and unhappiness
It is an easy habit aequire-this habit Of speak
ing sghtingly Of others. 1t requires mental ef-
fort 1t feeds upon itself and drives away the i'm
pulse Of kindness and of good.
The man and woman who didn't mean to- find
themselves responsible for suicides for divorces for
failures.
Not often do the gossips have the courage to con-
Tess did this evangelist who into sackcloth
and ashes in a futile endeavor to right the wrong
he helred commit
The pillows wet with tears from broken hearts the
flushed face OF the Inundated the anguished hours
Of The innocent victims accuse the gossip
assassin of character. worse that worthless, as
a doer of evil and a messenger Of woe.
Think of the Inundated evangelist before you re-
peat that next evil idle story about anyone. You
raay possibly save yourself trouble You surely win
not hurt another by silence