I saw in the museum at Venice an instrument with which one of the old Italian tyrants was wont to shoot poisoned needles at the objects of his wanton malignity. I thought of gossips, backbiters, and secret slanderers, and wished that their mischievous devices might come to a speedy end. Their weapons of innuendo, shrug, and whispers, appear to be insignificant as needles, but the venom which they instill is deadly to many a reputation.—SPURGEON.
One of our ancient nobility had inscribed over his castle gate these words, which I commend to all persons who are thin-skinned in the matter of private gossip or public worship:
THEY SAY.
WHAT DO THEY SAY?
LET THEM SAY.
—IBID.
