Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-14

Dear Sir: Regarding your article in
Wednesdays Star-there would be little
need for silence II not for foolish friends
who wantonly repeat what we say:
Prudence would hardly be virtue II
not Tor fools and children.
Some day give us an article on the
talebearer. not the malicious one, but
the foolish fellow who tells our friends
every petty remark or criticism we may
make about them.
Most friendships are broken up in
this way. Yet 9 out of 10 people are
talebearers of this kind Verify does the
Scripture say that the number Of fools
is INFINITE. Sincerely yours,
The fundamental reform necessary to
achieve our correspondents Utopia is Q
indoor sport commonly known as
talking behind ones back"
Every one knows that talking behind
another's back (about him, of course)
Is one of the most enjoyable occupa-
tons in life, but 1t Is only the rare man
who will admit as much.
Mostly We incline to frown upon the
practice, while going ahead merrily TO
DO our share upon the first occasion
that offers. Talking behind the back"
is what the other fellow says about us,
There 10 no more cogent reason why
the foibles of a friend should not be
discussed in his absence than the mis-
deeds OF a celebrated man across the
seas. In this matter, as in most others,
one must be discriminating.
The heavy hand of Citapproval fell
upon the practice primarils, we believe,
because Of the trend of many to stay I'M
tim would protest against the truth
because by it nd man yet has been
harmed.
IL Is injustice and untruth that irk
the soul, that Is why the prejudice has
grown up against honest criticism be-
hind the back. Criticism face to face,
while lauded in the abstract, Is TO be
practiced only by master both of
psychology and physiology. He will
need the former science in order to
prevent the friend from leaving him.
and strong muscles II the latter takes
jaw.
The world pretends to frown, too,
because Of the universal prevalence of
talebearers Mankind Is, above all,
practical. Rather than face the un-
pleasant situations inherent in polyg-
amy, for instance. it has found it easier
to pretend that man is by Nature
homogeneous. Women are, but men
are not We discussed this the other
day with splendid woman who said
that she believed a great mistake had
been made in making men and women
unlike in this regard. What would
have become of all the novels and
plays, them" We asked with some
truth.
In regard to talebearers, mankind
has found 1t more expedient to pre-
tend that 1t Is terrible to talk behind
the back" than to GUST the scandal
mongers. It would be difficult to prove
that our correspondents ratio of 8 out
of 10 Is too high. 1t is probably nearer
right than wrong because humanity
likes to talk and when it finds a topic
so conveniently at hand, how can 1t
resist?
1t seldom does resist the lure of talk
ing behind o back, 1t must be admitted,
although, as stated. not every one will
admit it openly. The only balm to be
found in the wordy Gilead is to remem-
Der that not all talk behind the back
is done maliciously. Just as there are
good anonymous letters and bad anony-
nous letters, so there is harmless talk
behind the back and harmful talk
If the talebearer Is at fault, the per-
son who receives the tale" also de-
serves some blame, II he permits the
new version to upset him or induce
him to give up friend. He should
learn some discrimination. If 1t were
not for this silly idea Of the iniquity
Of talking behind the back" he would