"THEY SAY"

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 2, 2 July 1926, Page 13

"THEY SAY"

Miss Preston-Stanley, M.L.A., of Sydney, writes a frequent message in a newspaper in Sydney, and a recent one would fit any country, and is well worth quoting. It ig as follows:— There are two little words in the English language which have much to answer for, and they are "They say " Cowards, liars, gossips, slanderers, detractors, and reputation-wreckers are particularly devoted to this form. When you hear "they say" used destructively, measure nyour man and take care. "They say" may be said of some other fellow to-day—but they may be saying it of you to-morrow. "They say" is a cover behind which the reptilian branch: of the human family creep—and from which they shoot —always the absent—generally the innocent—whom they envy. The fact that they are well dressed or in society makes no difference — many a, well-dressed human reptile is to be'found there, looking very much like other people. As a matter of fact, some of the most prominent members of the "they say" club are to be found in good society. But who are "they who say," anyway? The main point about "they say" is that "they" don't say. "They" is generally the fellow who is talking to you, anfl, being one of the reptile order—a sinuous, tortuous, devious, shuffling creature—prepared to slay his adversary with any weapon, by Nature quite incapable of fair fighting, he employs the cover of the mysterious "they say." The members of the "they say" club are too cowardly for the I say— I think—l believe—l know-of—clean, honourable, and upright men and wornon—men and women who never make a charge without evidence—no, nor listen to one—aud wffij scorn innuendo, insinuation, suggestion, as tools worthy only of the social footpad and assassin. "They say" has caused untold misery.. "Thoy say" has besmirched honour, destroyed trust, blighted hope, severed friendship,, killed love, broken hearty put out the fires of ambition. And—the tragedy of it is that many a thoughtless, foolish, kindly porson has helped to produce this misery, because they have listened to, and passed on, their errand of destruction, the sinister suggestions of the members of the "they say" club. Never mind who says "they say"— asked who are "they" who "say" before "you" say that which may be a wicked calumny which m^y bring untold misery in its train. Be careful what "you" say, and never mind jrt3t '-thpy;'-' any.