Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-02-04
NIr. Beecher on Lying.

rumber of the n. Y. Ledger which is pub
lished to-day Henry Ward Beecher has an
amusing article, inwhich he discusses the ques-
ion whether men can remember what never
happened. He shows that such stretch of
memory is possible by one or two instances.
We extract part of the article, the whole OF
ghich is in Mr.. Beecher's happieSt vein:
Some eighteen or nineteen years ago, soon
liter coming to Brooklyn, L heard the follow
.ng story told of the now venerable DR.. Samuel
Cox, the father of many brilliant sayings, as
gen as of Bishop Cox. of Western New York.
The story ran thus: "On Sunday morning
IN August, DIR. Cox, rising to the sermon, with
out warning or prefix, began, 1t is id hot.
Looking around In a calm and pious way, he
giped his forehead and again said, 1t Is ID
aot' Waiting till he thought the words had
burnt in, he proceeded, These words, my
brethren, heard from the lips of prOtane
young man as entered the doors OF the church.
Ihereupon, the story goes, he proceeded to
give an edifying discourse on the sin and folly
of profane swearing"
When | first heard it, recognized the story.
{ was an old acquaintance. 1t had been doing
service in England 1t was told of Rev. Row.
land Hill, only In his case the topic was not
he weather. but the theatre, on which the
young mans profanity was expended. But
atock stories, like courisrs, like to change
lorses. Before | knew it the saddle was shit
led to my back, nor have | ever been able to
throw it off. | have denied it, twice in print,
md hundred times In conversation. The
7sddle sticks, and every month new fool rid
;ng in it.
And the narration of the incident brings me
lack to the question whether one can remem-
Der what never happened. 1t will be seen that
10 can.
Sitting at friend table, one EVENING" was
7ng an incident that betel me-in this wise :
"A young man from Buffalo called to see
re to-day He said that he had heard young
ady, in a large company, relating. the story
q my beginning a sermon with the phrase /;
it is id hot He at once contradlcted 1t.
She affirmed it positively. He replied: L
,eve lately read published denial OF the
story from MIR. Beecher himself. She an
ogered why, | was present myself at his
,hurch and heard it with my owns ears. OF
course he could not say what he thought, but
eplied L am going to New York, and l will
.nyself call and ask Mr.. Beecher.
The case seemed so hagrant, that said to
lim: "When you go back, wish you would
AXE occasion, before witnesses, to say to this
lady, from me, that she hes, and that she
xnOws that she lies, and she knows that know
hat she lies.
This was very improper language, but l was
angry, and besides, had been reading the Irl-
bune
When had got thus far sweet young girl
ThO sat opposite me, brought up under my eye
almost from the cradle, and as incapable OF
knowingly telling a falsehood as a rosebud
would be of committing burglary, this inno-
cent and charming child of fifteen looked over
At me, AID said
But you did say so, didn't you, Mr.
Eeecher? heard you. :"
For moment there was silence. Then came
crash of laughter from the whole company
Confused and blushiug scarlet, she said:
why, | always thought that l had heard
'ou say IL p
Tor the first time l then believed that u per
con might distinctly remember what never took
place. | take back the message to the Buffalo
lady, and humbly apologize for supposing
.hat one could not recall thing which never
happened.