Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-27
SUB ROSA
-4.-4----s----a.,-s-~----@---~-s~
BY MIMI.
by MIMI.
Termination to Be Resisted.

We're all of us born gossips. There
something about nice little chat on
the subject of one OF our acqualn-
tances which appeals to all OF us.
And even when some of our good
friends come up for discussion, Whlie
we don't want actually TO cat them.
we often have vague desire TO add
our bit to the general conversation.
Frequently we're in possession OF
an interesting little tidbit which
would simply enthrall our hearers
and it takes the strongest VIII power
in the world to conquer our impulse
to relate the piece of gossip.
II is wisest -and il is best for us
IN the long run--to resist that tempia-
ton 10 make n conversation more in
teresting by revealing some Juicy
morsel of scandal which has nap"
pened to come to our ears.
Here's trivial little incident winch
happens 10 be true Sec if it illus
trates my point clearly enough.
Jane and Barbara had been friends
for eight years-very good TRENDS
Suddenly. overnight, 50 to speak, bar
bara married. She married very Well
so we'll that Jane couldn't help teel'
ing a little bit envious.
Every one raved about Barbara
she was TO have.
Rogers mother was something or
4 society woman and rather oyeraWed
Jane and the simple friends Barbara
had always known.
one day Jack. Barbara's brother.
came to Jane just before the wed
ding. Mrs. S.. Rogers mother,
has been saying beastly things about
our family" he grumbled. III !
wasn't afraid of busting things up
and spelling Bab's happiness, ia tell
that old lady what ] thought OF her:
But, of course, / won't say word.
Jane remembered the story, and
some weeks later, when all Bah s
former friends were taking whack
at Mrs. s., whom they suspected or
being too grand and mighty 10 APP
preciate them, she bit her lip, stlfiing
the impulse to tell what Jack had
said.
"Oh." she thought to herself. what
harm can that bit of gossip do? Ban
Is happily married now. She's be-
ginning to think herself terribly nigh
hat and on TO society. Old Mrs. >:
makes me sick. Why shouldn't !
tell?"
So she informed the girls that Mrs.
s. had been catty about Barbara s
family-a bit of news which was re-
ceived with the greatest interest.
Jane gained nothing out OF her
action. save the temporary pleasure
of astonishing all the girls, and the
somewhat malicious satisfaction or
having shown that Barbara wasn't in
the most enviable position in the
world if she had such a nasty moth
in-law.
Yet the result Of that remark was
amazing. For it travelled back TO
Bab's family-it started tremendous
feud between them and the poor girl s
new relations. 1t kept a great many
people indignant and unhappy for
months.
And when the whole business was
finally traced back to Jane it broke up
that eight years friendship which had
meant so much to both girls.
Absurd that James tiny gossip
should have wrought so much trouble.
Yet It takes such a slight remark to
overturn friendships we must always
be struggling against the temptation
to tell the malicious little story which
may do great harm.
Copyright 1927
Mimi win be glad to answer any INQUIRIES
directed TO this paper. PROVIDED a stamped
addressed envelope Is tnclosed,