Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-06-21
THE GAZETTE.
FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 81.
d COMMUNICATED
The 1IAR-By ]. B. johnson.

Tho liar is an abominable character, whose
,r,rss and acts are SO widely separated
.bot they rarely approach near enough to be
.oooncied with each other; and if he should
6ndit necessary to resort to truth, it is not as
=, object Of principle, but as an expcdlent to
onon the way for the more perfect sway OF
f,,sebood, for his tongue is so prolific in the
nse Of mendacious words, that his language
seldom bears the weight Of truth. His way is
through exaggeration, evasion, and deceit, and
he never assumes the responsibility of any act
that he performs, or of any word that he speaks.
Sinister motives arc the pleasure OF his mlnd'
and if a truthful impulse does occasionally,
lipht bis thoughts, it is only as transient
clare, in sombre place; tor IN consequence OF
tbe uncertainty of the results that follow
calsehood he is kept In constant dread, aud Is
nerpetually perpexcd to invent an excuse to
"a him Of the fear of the desert which he feels
nnyht to succeed his offence. II detected, he
conceals his trepidation, in the zeal OF coming
another lie to neutraliZe the effect of the one
that preceded it; and if caught in the second
instance he still perseveres, and trlumphs at
last over the annoyance OF an investigation, by
commanding those who make it with i repetl-
ton of preyarications. His counteuance is
generally as bad as his habits, and he is found
fo nossess the most serious of the vices, which
grow from day to day, upon him, until he be-
comes Injured to such a degree OF depravlty
that he finally commits some penal offence,
which eonsigns him to the society OF those
whose violations Of law, have made them the
outcssts Of respect. Usually, such is his end;
and if the history Of the most arrant convict ~
studied, it will elicit the fact that his early
character was that OF notorious har.
If the habit Of lying did not carry ITS adept,
beyond the pale of the pardonabIe trailties OF
human nature, the injury to society .wOnid be
subject of sufferance; but it is otherwise =
It begets such total disregard for the quail
ties of maniness, that it soon degenerates into
felony, Tor lying is nothing more than mild
form of theft; and the Individual who is 80
abandoned as to tell a deliberate lie, will not
hesitate to steal when a propitlous opportnnl-
ty is presented. Every one has Il night TO
know the truth in connection with all matters
that are interesting TO him, in I social or bust
ness relation; and he who Intentionally with
holds the truth from one to whom it 10 due,
and substitutes lalsehooa, is not only guilty
Of deception, but OF an ac', which, II not in
itself stealing, deprives that individual OF the
possession Of intelligence that may, at all times,
be equivalent to property Many errors are
masked by mendacity, and It Is not untrequent'
ly used by persons, of whom better is expected,
to disguise vice, and whether harmless or ma
lcious in effect, it should BE scorned III every
transaction of life. as practice beyond the re
cognition of honor
The teaching Of no place is more fitted for
the abate1nent OF this despicabIe habit, than
the Preside Every parent SHOULD appoint the
strictest Veracity in his Intercourse with his
children; and from the earliest moment I'M
press their minds with the inestimahle impor-
lance Of speaking the truth under all circum-
stances; and to scorn lie a. groyeling, cow
ardlY and wicked The dread OF the punish
,nent which child imagines will follow the
confession Of a disobedient act, frequently de
tiers it from telling the truth and induces it to
preyaricate This Influence should never be
used to oyerawe it's mind. 1t should be taught
by pleasing appreciation to know that it will be
rewarded Instead of punished, by frankly own
ing It's errors of innocent pastlme by tins
system Of moral training correct action will be
elected in its demeanor, and associations OF dis
ingenuousness will be so firmly fixed in Its
thoughts, that it will rarely forget them
when in the midst Of the scenes and incidents
of maturer years
Precept and example constitute the basis OF
wise and virtuous principles; and as the tlrst
mental impressions are the best, and most du-
rable, parent should be exceedingly cautious
TO have those impressions made in 4 firm and
iudicious manner Without thinking of the
impropriety, parents often repeat, IN the pres
ence Of their children, highly exaggerated ac-
counts of their domestic or personal trapSac-
tons to their acquaintance. Their children
being familiar with the history OF the occur
rences, know their parents narration OF them,
is not truthful, and observing no manifestation
Of regret, or blush of shame, think that It IS
all right, and finally conclude that lying is re-
quisite to render the recitation of every trivial
incident interesting and important. frequent
Iva father who is engaged in commerce, takes
his little son with him to market-placc to
purchase goods to sell again The child hears
the price given, and remembers the bargain
The father receives the goods, and in offering
an article for sale, declares in the presence OF
his boy, to his customer, that he is selling i, at
cost, and that he would not let any one else
have it near so cheaply The son is standing
by, and rec6ilecting the price actually paid,
and the profit received, perceives his father, 8
attempt at deception, and hears him lie, and,
seeing no mark of compunctlon evlnced by his
features, quickly infers, that to lie and mislead
are part of business, and that to make favor
able sales a man must resort to 4 false repre-
sentation of the price and quality OF his articles
Of merchandise. Thus, through the inadver
tent conduct and iLcautious language OF par
ents, children frequently receive their initia-
ton in the habit of lying, and the establish
ment of the foundation of the name which their
children will bear in after life, for truthfulness
or untruthtulness rests directly Or indirectly
with them. The traits which individuals dis
play in maturity. have been, as general rule,
ingrafted at home and the many virtues or
crimes that cheer or sadden the world. have,
in many instances, acquired their rise under
the sway of domestic influence. Hence, verac-
ity and honor should be the first inculcstions
OF the nursery; and every inducement should
be afforded a child to avoid the habit Of lying !
for it breeds every variety of treachery, and
the LIAR is not only repulsive as an acquain-
tance, undesirable as an associate, and unsafe
as friend, but unreliable in every sphere Of
life's duties.