Smyrna times., 1872-07-03
The Science Of Lying.

In Difference to the general tendency OF the
age to scientific distribution, we have investi .;
gated philosOphically that most practiced and 81
least understood of all the sciences-the sci a.
ence Of lying. The subject is treated from -
scientific, not from an ethical, standpoint. ~
Nor is it discussed with regard to its relative 6
utility, though, as question of mere expedi- .
ency, all will agree that honesty is the best +
| policy"
As rhetoric is defined to be the science and ' '
art of persuasive speaking, so may lying be de- ;
| fined to be both the science and art of deoep- :
ton. 1t is better known, however, as an art
than as a science-for it is more practiced than :
understood, and as has not yet been reduced to
systematic and welldigeSted relations The
reason is obvious. Most falsehoods are told
without premedtation-that is, when the
authors are caught i'll ambush and by surprise.
Hence their precpitancy and their ignorance
Of the science lead them into perpexing dilem
mas, in order to escape which it becomes
necessary to 1abricate anew, to patch up the old
myth aud give it the roundness and symmetry
Of truth. This is why lone lie begets an
other"
With many lying is simply careless,
' thoughtless habit; with a few it is love; with
: some it is an accident, almost-the lie is
uttered almost before they are conscious of it.
The second cass is an apparent anomaly IN
2 human nature-a study for an Emerson, a
t Darwin, or a Diogenes. In its ordinary inter- |
pretations of human nature, the ethical spec |
o troscope does not reveal any other autOgraphic
e lines similar to theirs. They have no clear |
l. idea of utility; and to borrow the idiom OF
p philosophy, there seems to be no sufficient rea-
+ son why they should lie rather than otherwise.
Is They will tell lie when there is not the least
a apparent demand for it-when there is no mo-
e tive, no design, aspiration or disgrace which
r need to be concealed. 1t is equally curious
10 and instructive to observe the repose of their
n countenances, the shadows of thought fitting
y across their features, their interior illumination
to as they utter a falsehoOd with the happy grace
he and easy serenity Of meek-eyed truth.
ut Anything by which one willfully misleads or
al deceives is lie. 1t may be an act, or word,
es or inaction, or silence 1t must be willtul and
is it must be intended to deceive The most
ay skillful lie is the most perfect slmilitude OF
ks truth. The further it is from the semblance of
he truth the less likely is it to deceive. Every lie
he has truth for its background, near or remote !
an and it is putting it forward, in its dazzle, and
pomp, to form the picture, that the falsehood
rs exists The most unblushng lies arc generally
lec also the most unsclentlhc
OF The scientific architect of falsehood requires
IN our sharpest vigilance. Unctuous and unos
OF tentatiOus, his hctlOns contain elements o1
ard truth, in order to insure credence and decep
ind tion They are compounded of truths anC
)ck probables or at least of possibles; and they
ne put forward the ingredient of verify as that
ers shall attract observation and reflect about tn
n4 whole an air of credibiity They never con
lnk tain anything in its nature impossible, unles
the the intended victims of deception have bee
ed prepared by previous instruction to regard it
III in the order of natural or divine things. Thi
oer- is the method of the religious impostor-th
Her historic liar-the Mahomet Thus men hav
lck genius for lying, well as for poetry or pain
the ing The sublime genius of Mahomet const
len tutes his title to Immortality.
the Our commonplace, everyday liar, display
r III his nescience chiefly in this-that his story
ular not a judcious compound of the true and tt
kes. false. The lie he tells is often mixture Of ii
and probabilities He weaves the whole tapest
the out Of felicitOus warp and woof. lie does n
i'm blend the golden threads of truth with the te
and ture. 1t is all dark, enigmatical, and incre
'ion ible The scientific lie contains the false on
CITY, so far is Indispensable, with the greatest &c
cca- sible intermingling of truth. But our tyrO
med falsifyng reverses the rule by interbending t
White least possible truth with the most possible
In the false. In the ingenious falsehood all t
jet details consist as far as may be- of the trut
)rder with it's distinctive form and coorings
and though at best, the fasehood cannot displ
Ger the finish, the rounded beauty, and the cha
ualy features of truth yet its defect will be obscuI
ents, or unseen amid the general harmony and pur
th of the outline. Thus the observer, behold
'urts the general atmosphere Of fidelity clothing
gners invention, would probably accept the who
rlous aud quiet his suspicious, if any remained, W
primal the consolaory maxim that truth is stranl
'ualy than fiction.
3 who But people do not devote as much study,
point much science and philosophy, to deception
pre-, to the truth. Most people profess to sea-
and after the truth, and they are mostly since
erous: The greatest liar that ever lived somebody
tied" said, every day tells more truths than ia
sum- hoods. All admire the truth-even those
8 fol. think it more to be admired than followed.
lamed worship truth Philosophy is replete v
obey maxims full of wisdom and poetry, all extol
in sleek phrase the serene beauty and digl
of truth Thus it is that truth gets all
posi- incense and tie alteration, even though she
ady of not all the followers.
Herald 1t is happy for our kind that it is So IF
reeley, gave to lying and deception fraction of
study, the genius and enthusiasm, which II
years obtains, we should be scarcely able to dis
ut Mr. guish the true from the false As it is our
I'm the are generally unphilosophical and unstud
in this They daub fasehood over with cheap, eI
and In neral cOlors, trick her out with immO
rduous charms, and thus by the very brilliancy OF
ansOn false beauty attract criticism and de
Miss ton. She does not shine with the SOFT
hteen, effulgence of truth, with her inimitable fir
dark ness and bloom Her brilliancy is artificial
iion OF laid in fading cOlors She is made to or
hair is and almost invariably on short notice, ant
head. does not display the grace, the perfection,
er con naturalness of truth. The inevitable resu
's with that, what with his nescience and his hi
resided the liar is almost universally recognized
lminis and his lies deceive nobody but himself b,
e farm ducing him to suppose his deception is g
evident rally successful, when it is generally fail
g thor ---.---
scribed The unpleasant odor produced by persl
gulari- tion is frequently the source of vexatio
c heard persons who are subjected to it. Nothiu
ondon simpler than to remove this odor more e
: tele- tually than by the appliance of such c.
notice perfumes and unguents as are in use
glad to only necessary to procure some of the
omina- pound spirits OF ammonia, and place about
in the tablespoonsful 10 a basin of water. Was
!. She the face, hands and arms with this leaves
! if she skin as sweet as one would wish. The
i, which is perfectly harmless and very cheap.
1 party recommended on the authority Of an ex
enced physician,