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Editorial
November 2, 1825
The Telegraph
Warren, Bristol County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
Editorial warns against the dangers of spreading rumors during public distress, citing the tragic suicide of Mr. M'Neil due to false reports of his firm's failure, repeated by a pilot.
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Full Text
Melancholy effects of Tattling.
We took occasion sometime ago, to animadvert upon that evil disposition, which leads individuals, in periods of public distress, to pry into, and, right or wrong, to talk about their neighbours' affairs. Since then, we find an incident stated in a Cheraw. (S. C.) paper, which confirms with lamentable accuracy those reflections. It is therein said, and we believe with truth, that Mr. M'Neil, of the house of Broadfoot & M'Neil, of Charleston, on arriving in Charleston harbour from Liverpool, and being informed that his house had failed, was driven to the desperate act of throwing himself overboard and was drowned. Now his house had not failed: but, amid the thousand busy and mischievous rumours of the day, their names had been mentioned as among the unfortunate, and these idle rumours were too fatally repeated by the pilot, without knowing any thing of their truth, or of the interest which the passengers he was talking to might have in it. it would be impossible by any argument to illustrate so forcibly as by this unhappy occurrence, the pernicious and wicked consequences of such incautious or malicious babble.
N. Y. Amer.
We took occasion sometime ago, to animadvert upon that evil disposition, which leads individuals, in periods of public distress, to pry into, and, right or wrong, to talk about their neighbours' affairs. Since then, we find an incident stated in a Cheraw. (S. C.) paper, which confirms with lamentable accuracy those reflections. It is therein said, and we believe with truth, that Mr. M'Neil, of the house of Broadfoot & M'Neil, of Charleston, on arriving in Charleston harbour from Liverpool, and being informed that his house had failed, was driven to the desperate act of throwing himself overboard and was drowned. Now his house had not failed: but, amid the thousand busy and mischievous rumours of the day, their names had been mentioned as among the unfortunate, and these idle rumours were too fatally repeated by the pilot, without knowing any thing of their truth, or of the interest which the passengers he was talking to might have in it. it would be impossible by any argument to illustrate so forcibly as by this unhappy occurrence, the pernicious and wicked consequences of such incautious or malicious babble.
N. Y. Amer.
What sub-type of article is it?
Moral Or Religious
What keywords are associated?
Tattling
Rumors
Gossip Consequences
Public Distress
Moral Warning
What entities or persons were involved?
Mr. M'neil
Broadfoot & M'neil
Charleston
Pilot
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Melancholy Effects Of Tattling And Rumors
Stance / Tone
Moral Exhortation Against Gossip
Key Figures
Mr. M'neil
Broadfoot & M'neil
Charleston
Pilot
Key Arguments
Evil Disposition Leads To Prying Into Neighbors' Affairs During Public Distress
Rumors About Broadfoot & M'neil's Failure Caused Mr. M'neil's Suicide Despite Falsehood
Idle Rumors Repeated Incautiously Can Have Fatal Consequences
Such Babble Is Pernicious And Wicked