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Show SLANDER. I There are few occaslohs In life when we feci ourselves so completely powerless power-less In the hands of fate as we do when we know that false malicious slander is being circulated about us. We arc helpless to exp'aln Whoever excuses himself Is apt to accuse himself. him-self. We would not have the untrue reports go further than is absolutely necessary and yet If we defend ourselves our-selves publicly they will become known to every one- Our most Innocent actions ac-tions arc often capable of the vilest Interpretations. The most virtuous maiden may unavoidably be obliged to return home from a dance at 2 'a. m. with the most respectable man and, yet the scandal mongers, judging merely by the late return and knowing know-ing nothing of the attendant circumstances, circum-stances, will not hesitate to start unsavory un-savory stories. A politician may be sent to the legislature to accomplish certain purposes for his constituents, but failing to secure the desired ends he is sure to bo accused of bribery, no matter how clean his previous record may have been. The muck rake of today to-day spares no one and often stir up as much clean sand as filthy mhe. A most common starting point for the spreading of unjust suspicions is when some object that has been left. In our caro has been stolen from us through no neglect on our part. Unless we can give dctlnitc proofs or the persons with whom we are dealing have absolute abso-lute conlldcncc in our Integrity, how arc we to avoid slander? Then again how quickly people believe all the slander that a woman can tell about a man and how loath they are to believe be-lieve it about a woman when it comes from the mouth of a man! In speaking speak-ing of scandal a French woman once said, "Don't pay any attention to ro-ports, ro-ports, and even when you see with your own eyes convincing proofs, even then be wary about ocllevlng I them and hesitate to condemn " It i is only another way bf saying mind I your own business and'' bo charitable. I Society Is complex and perplexing. We cannot alter certain conditions, such as the small natures of many of our fellow men, tho Impossibility of ever llndlng the exact absolute truth about aionc and expressing It in adequate words, but we can take care that we speak evil of no man and If evil Is spoken of us we may take comfort com-fort In quoting to ourselves John Burroughs Bur-roughs well-known lines: I "Serene I fold my hands and wait, Mine own shall come tome." |
