THE FLOOD OF SCANDAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1555, 27 August 1881, Page 14

THE FLOOD OF SCANDAL.

[The following lines have been sent to us by a corres. ondent apropos of some recent disclosures in regard to the course pursued byflirtain scurrilous prints :— ] Lives of some men oft remind us, With pen and ink we can begrime ; And when going leave behind us Prints of filth and tracks of slime. Innocence is no protection To shield us from a villain's pen ; No friendship, pity, or affection Finds place within bis inky den. No character, though meek aiid lowly, Finds safety from his slander^ vile ; No sanctuary is so holy, But he will labour to defile. A mother's love, a wife's devotion, He'll try to prove his hate and craft ; And, dead to every kind emotion, He launches forth his venoined shaft. No rolling drum, ' o cannon's rattle, Gives token of its deadly flight ; No manly foe, no open battle, No motto—" God defend the right." Not like tho snake, whose timelj' rattle Gives warning of its fatal sting : His victims have no chance to battle, Or shield to ward his tiger spring. Defenceless women, helpless maidens, 1 his monster drags through dirt and shame ; And, pitiless to every cadence, He strives to blacken and defame. He fills ono place upon the earth, For those who will consider well ; He points the place where lies have birth, And acts as finger-post to hell. What need we more of proof of devil, What witness more of < eathless shame? He plainly shown the curse primeval, While robbing us of earthly fame. No loiid like rabble base Judean, Yet piercing sounds his awful cry ; And ceaselessly his song or pean Is, Crucify, still crucify 1 Then what can we but wait and wonder, Until we hear his death-bell toll ; And flash from spirit part asunder, ba-y, " God have meicy on bis boul."