The Washington times., 1928-09-22
They're AIw ay S
j j Ready to Stay
Character

tan Authority on Problems OF
Love and Marriage)


~ him--she insists.
For years they were happily
married save for fleeing outbursts
of temper on her part. She went
away for a vacation last summer
when she returned thrilled al
the thought of being with her
husband again, sinister gossip
reached her before she saw him
reports OF late parties at their
home during her absence, IN
which he entertained women, ana
one woman in particular. She be-
lieved the gossip and in fury OF
Jealous rage she killed her hus-
band
There was no foundation, the
notice discovered, for the gossip,
True. there had been a late party
at her home in her absence. But
there had been no improperly at
this impromptu affair, which was
attended by several friends to
whom both husband and wife were
devoted. On this slender thread OF
fact, gossip built, tale so murky
that it changed love to hate Tor
the moment and led to murder.
There is hardly neighborhood
in which whispered gossip Is not
ut times passed about stealthliy
ana listened to with enjoyment
Human nature seemingly loves
gossip. AS Balzac put 1t:
EVIL makes a noise In the
world that rouses little souls TO
admiration, while good deeds are
slow to make themselves heard.
Gossin is never honest. never
Fair never true, because it is at
haet : bit of hear-say a half
fruth--perhaps not even hair true
-nassed from one person to an
other. growing as it travels ike
Rnowball rolling down-hlll. IL may
be founded on mahclous .
,,,hich some one starts whispering
f,st to make mischief. Or 1t may
- that some one, attending
.trictly to some one eise's DUST
rass instead OF her own, draws
an entirely mistaken conclusion
from appearances, accepts ms =
Hurmise as fact ana passes
on as such to others
If all this were merely vulgar
hut harmless pastime, there mlgh.
not. be serious injury done. But
when we begin trifling with the
reputation of others, throWlns
euspicion on their lives and cnar-
acter. we play with fire and gun
nowder. Broken love, broken
hearts, broken lives are hKely 70
what Is the good of gossip
How much does it add to anyone
happiness? Is there any worth
while Measure In listening TO eVli
tales. brooding over them, repeat
fnx them, believing them! 1t
.aeema to me the answer to these
questions is self-evident.
What is the way to protect
yourself from this maleoVeht
poison, which, unless you do pro-
tect yourself, will not only harm
others but may ALLEVIATE you from
the man you love, and IL you are
married, bring about separation
and divorce?
There is one way Of checking
gossip-and as far as / know 1t IL
the only way. Refuse to listen 10
It. refuse to believe it or pass 1t
along to others. Then It may ole
q natural death.
What If a certain pretty WIDOW
who lives in her own house alone
does have her windows lighted
every night at or 3 o'clock!
Strange as it may seem, once
FaI - CcfT
about this slender evidence to
prove that the widow in question
was giving late parties. AS
matter of fact, she was doing
extra work for the office where
she was employed, and receiving
extra pay, in order to buy her.
self a fur coat.
But two out OF three OF the
suburbanites to whom the damag-
Ing evidence of the bright night
lights was repeated, found 1t thrill
ing to believe the worst of the
pretty self-supporting widow, rath-
er than give here the benefit of
the doubt.
Unless you find on acquaintance
that a man Is worthy OF your
trust, do not accept him as a
companion, friend, sweetheart or
husband. II you do give him your
friendship or love, give him also
your wholehearted trust. You will
come much nearer the truth by
trusting a dependable friend than
by believing the subtle suggestions
or jealousy and gossip.
Should there be serious doubt
regarding his character. il it Ia
important that you know the
truth you can easily enough in
Vestigate and get at the facts-but
not by listening TO hearsay
evidence.
"Good deeds are slow to make
themselves heard" says Balzac.
Yet good deeds are at least as
true as the half-lies Of gossip and
II you stress good deeds OF others
and bring them out by your appre-
citation, they will keep your love
and marriage harmonious.
II / were wishing a fairy god
mother wish, could not do bet
ter than wish for each girl who
reads this column romance and
marriage unclouded by the breath
OF gossip. Remember. gossip can
not hurt your love unless you.
yourself. give 1t power by listen.
Ing to it, believing it and passing
It on to others.