The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1922-04-07
RUMORS
THERE is no more graceless .prac.

i tice. measured by any standard
one cares to apply--common sense
courtesy, honesty. Christianity. OF
even self interest--than scandal-mon.
gering and the spreading OF baseless
rumors.
Klamath Falls probably has ss sen
sible and practical a population as
any community OF its size. but Klam.
ath Falls, on occasion, lapses into
the nonsensical and harmful habit
Of tale-monserine.
The wa,ch.word OF the dangerous
fraternity OF Glib and Giddy Gobblers
OF Gossip is They say" Whenever
you hear n man or woman preface .
statement derogatory to neighbor's .
character or limiting at the totterins
condition Of a neishbor's business. or
surmising a scandal in a neighbor's
home. with "They say. be immedi.
ately on your guard. Ton chances to
one there is no foundation for the
statement. And. II you ask your In
formant who They" are, ten chances
10 one he or she will blush. stammer
and hedge. and finally admit, II they
admit anything. that they got the
story from some one on the street
corner. who had II from some one
else. who had II from some one else.
and SO on ad infinitum. II you take
the time and trouble TO trace any
particular rumor sto It's source. you
will he surprised how even the most
innocent statement can be manipulat.
ed into q damning charge against
reputation by passage through a dos-
en- careless minds and mouths
Ignorance and lack Of observation.
are twin breeders Of gossip. The is-
norant mind draws conclusions that
are not warranted by the facts. The
unobservant views q. thing but cannot
grasp what he sees. and often gets an
idea that Is entirely untrue. But he
starts q rumor and says that he
knows whereof he speaks for he has
seen It with his own eyes.
II Is true that he has seeA but In
his ignorance and lacking the faculty
Of observation. he has observed but
little of what he has been. and failed
TO observe the essential thing which
would have changed his story entire
ly.
When hands are In idleness.
tongues wag most rapidly. and at
this time. in klamath Falls. II is well
to be cautious In repeating rumors.
A newspaper man knows whereof
he speaks. for a large part Of his
working hours are spent in running
down rumors. and II 10 surprising
how few are found for which there Is
even q small modicum OF founda-
tion.
Before you repeat gossip eliminate
They. say" Quote your authority.
That Is a newspaper axiom. II the
story is true. the author does not
fear to stand behind =; II II is false
he will be forced to retract, for truth
cannot be hidden.
There is no credit In repeating un-
tales. Even those who listen
TO the gosslpers most eagerly. do not
trust them. And 1t Is a practice that
sometimes causes untold harm TO
private regulations and business en-
terprises. for 1t undermines insidu-
ously. while the individual Or concern
unwilling OF the falsehoods
and feeling secure In an innate know
ledge OF integrity and soundness. has
no chance for defense. and though
the attack Is untrue. sometimes the
truth comes to light SO late that II
takes months or years to undo the
harm OF one thoughtlessly spoken
sentence.
Remember before you speak Ill or
believe Ill OF a neighbor. that the
tongue OF slander cares nothing for
what It feeds upon. Granted the op-
portunity It would fssten on you as
readily as upon any one else.
Generally speaking the tale bearer
and gossip-monger Is not a citizen OF
Influence and standing. Such men and
women have intelligence that revolts
from idle and unwholesome tattling.
On the other hand they are more Of
ten the objects OF attack. for the de-
inclined. with peculiar
perverted ambition. seek always the |
finest character, the staunchest bust. |