HOW SCANDAL SPREADS.

New Zealand Tablet, 6 March 1919, Page 45

HOW SCANDAL SPREADS.

Scoring the gossip, The Gasket gives these familiar illustrations of how scandal spreads: “ ‘I hear’ or ‘They say’ becomes by the time it has passed over a few lips a full-fledged indictment, garnished and trimmed with imaginary circumstances. A f story that began ‘I wonder’ or ‘perhaps’ takes the shape of ‘Everybody says,’ or ‘lt is the common re-

port,’ or ‘lt is understood.’ The first gossip says, ‘I wonder now the - second says, T heard the third says, ‘lt is reported the fourth says, ‘People are saying the fifth asks with surprise, ‘Didn’t you hear? Oh, yes, everyone ■ says. so’ the sixth says, ‘lt is so.’ Long before the victim of the charge has a chance to deny it, if he ever gets such a chance, the thing is settled. Some one ventures to suggest that perhaps there is no truth in it and mildly asks for some proof. He is laughed at. It is hinted to him that he is soft, credulous, easily deceived. A dozen reasons are produced, founded on nothing, why the charge -is probably true. One objects that nothing was ever said against this person. The others pounce on him*. ‘That is always the way; the sly ones are the worst. But I always had my doubts about that person,’ etc., etc., etc. Do you not recognise the procedure? Of course you do. It is as familiar as breakfast, dinner, or supper, almost as common as the wearing of boots.”