GOSSIPING!

White Ribbon, Volume 49, Issue 6, 18 July 1943, Page 3

GOSSIPING!

W’hat al>out it? It’s woman’s safety valve! Then gossip the truth! Mr. Alfred Williams, of Mildway, at a great mass meeting in Auckland Town Hall recently, urged his audience to “Gossip the Gospel He told the charming story of how lolm Human, the dissolute tinker of Bedford, was drunkenly shuffling along the village street when he came upon a group of village women gossiping. He listened in. They were gossiping the (jOS|k.*l, retelling the Story of Redeeming Love. Human caught the message. It led to his conversion. It may well be that the world owes “The Pilgrim’s Progress” to a few gossiping women. Yes, it’s n safety valve much used! A little friendly gossip goes a long way towards restoring the balance or easing a sore heart. Could we gossip the Truth a little more, so that others might hear and catch fire? And what altotit gossiping Prohibition now that the i>oll is nearing? (iossip the truth about the wrong of the Liquor Traffic. Tell aboard the facts you know and hear at meetings and read in the “White Ribbon.” That is how public opinion grows and is swayed—by everybody gossiping. Stage a few tea parties. Every woman can do that. Invite a few nonmembers. When “weather” is exhausted, serve “The Franchise —was it worth the fight?” See what they know about it. “The Poll”—women’s bullets. Then lead on to “Prohibition,” “A NewDry Order.” Get literature to pass on. There’s some excellent stuff at headquarters, reasonable. Tell how State Control would make you a partner —as a citizen of the State—in the most lawless ami vicious traffic in the world. How- Alcohol is the handmaid of immorality. How it is a Racial Poison, destroying the unborn child.

How it is the leading cause in motor accidents, murder, crimes against women and children.

Although these facts are commonplace to us they are not known to everyone.

Tell of the wastage of money and happiness.

During an ocean trip we noticed an “old man of the sea” make his way to the bar 4 or 5 times a day and return licking his lips. We hailed him as he passed our deck-chairs one day and had a friendly little gossip. Later we gently broached the subject of his “light refreshment.” He said, “Oh, I just take a wee nip now and then.” Pressing the matter kindly we asked “How often, say?” “Oh, maybe, 4 or 5 a day. I’m a greaser and it’s dry work!” “How much does ‘a nip’ cost?” “Oh, a shillin’!” “How long have you been at sea?” “Oh, a matter of 40 years or so.” He began to drink very young; ashore

probably drank much more. With pai>er and pencil handy we did a little sum: 5 “nips” a day .... 5/6 da\s a week .... £l/10/- (Sundayqueried) 52 weeks a year .... £7B 40 years £3,120 Next time he passed we asked him to look at the little sum. He was verygenial ! He looked, read, scratched his head, muttered “I never thought of it that way!” asked, “Can I keep this?” Went away studying it, shaking his head. Poor old lonely, homeless, robbed soul! The enricher of the distilling and brewing millionaires! And he could have bought a home and retired in comfort at 60! Tell it forth! Gossip the truth! C. M. McLAY.