The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-11-07
The beauty of Truth.
A TEST OF CHARACTER,

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The beauty of Truth.
A TEST OF CHARACTER. ,....
Truth, ever lovely since the world began
The foe of Tyrants-and the friend of Man.
Or high, or low, or rich, or poor, we call,
The good of each rests in the good OF all. 80
We fear that large portion of the rising
generation do not attach sufficient Importance
to TRUTH and its influence upon .character'-
They indulge in all sorts OF extravagant ms
representation, and when these are discovered
they endea'or to laugh them offas mere = At,
tiers of Jest. In other words they mistake false
hood for wit, and thus not only injure others,
but mislead themselves. The iuirmity is one
that has been alluded to again and again, but
cannot be denounced too earnestly or too Ire,
queutly. Truth is ole of the brightest and:
purest of moral jewels of our nature. 1t not
ony.ilIustrates, butt adorns and dignities. IT,
is indeed invaluable in almost every aspect in
which it may be considered. The true man.,
one whose word may always be, relied upon,
deservedIy esteemed and respected by all who
know him, and the weight of his opinion cannot
but exercise tigh moral influence in every
intelligent circle 1t has been well and wisely
contended, that "Truth les at the very founda-
tion of the really virtuous character. 1t is the
keystone of the arch. 1t inspires confidence, and
in its absence, every other element of purity
is deprived of portion Of its beauty and its;
strength. No truly great or good man ever
lived, in whom this trait was not prominent.
Truth is the brightest jewel in the young;
mans crown. He that is unwilling to preya.
ricate, to misrepreSent, to grabble, to pervert-
lie that scorns to deceive, and with modest.
frankness and a manly frmness, always speaks
the simple truth, commends himself at once to
the respect and admiration of the truly wise
and vrtuous. An individual may be perfect
novice in business, may possess brilliant talents,
may he awkward in person, and unPoIsheo IN
manners, but let it be known that he IS truth.
ful mar, ,,that there is no deception, no false
hood about him, that he comes directly to the
mark mall he says, and that his word is never
to he doubted, and he will have a sure passport
to the confidence Of the community. And no
who can command confidence, can also COM
mand success. On the other hand, let an indl-
vidual be attractive in person, accomplished in
manners, marked by energy, enterprise, talent,
and tact, but let him at the same time, be ad-
dicted to falsehood, and che effect will be to
create distrust, excite suspicion, to destroy
hopes, and TO impair prospects. The Young
-w1!o arr Tcrfvv PURSUIT" "I
the orltl, and thus TO carve out for themselves
character, as well as fortune, should remember
these facts. They should avoid, as somethIng
calculated to curse them throughout lite, a habit
of misrepresentation, exaggeratIon, and iaIse-
hood. Even in Jest, the truth should be ad-
hered to; but alas! how often il is otherwise!
How many persons indulge, day after day, in
the silly practice of utterng fal-ehoods, half in
Jest aud half in earnest, and OF thus perplexlnS,
misleading and confusing individuals who are
conscious and manly, and who cannot under :
stand the wit of lying.
1t is sad mistake in the young as well as
the old, to collcoct scandal, circulate misrepre
sentation, and utter untruth, in the silly notion
that such policy is smart. 1t is, on the con-
trary, not only weak, but vicious Ihe effect
teo, is to excite general dIstrust, and thus,
even when the truth was uttered, the listener
remembers the authority, and seeks for c"rroo-
grafton in some other quarter. The old fable
of the Boy and Wolf, is familiar, and is as full
of meaning as full of moral. The wIsest are
liable to he deceived once or twice by Plan-
sible faIsehood; but thereafter, they are not
only apt to manifest caution, but to exhibit IN
cre,lulity and scorn. How priceless is truth IN
the family circlc-among parents and children,
relatives and friends. Wecould parson almost
any offence in the young, except the habit OF
deceiviug and falsf ing. With such habit
it is impossible to imagine what has taken
place. Unpleasant discoveries are constantly
occurring, and we are made 10 live in state
of continual anxiety and apprehension