Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-03-09

80 G4 Alf society Fibs. ASs Hv
By Rev. DR.. Deems, pastor of the Church
Of the Strangers" New York.
Truth is truth. And everything else
is something else, no matter whether il
be uttered by the prim lips of diplo
mat or the budding mouth Of a young
beauty.g You may callit paste diamond
but that does not make it less'paste OIL
more diamond. p You may call a lie =" a
fb." hut it is lie all the same. You
may s&hitewash a mud wall, but that
does not change the mud into marble OF
granite White lies are lies eyen.it
they be white as lilies, 4n
1t is wrong to give mitigating names to
bad things. II begets a coloHblindpess
in morality. II breeds loose IDEAS oi
right. It is uncharitable to ones self.
Why call a lie "a fb2" The words are
of the same length. Each is as easy Of
utterance as the other. The former has
this advantage over the latter that it
conveys to the. hearer q distinct idea,
the very idea which is in the mind of the
speaker. "Fib . is the exact synonym
of lie" or it is not. If it is, then we
have already assigned reason for pre-
ference of the latterwor If it is not,
what does it meant tits supposed to
signify proposition which is neither a
lie nor a truth There is no such thing.
The word leads to the supposition that
there is, and therefore is bad.
What, then, are we to do in society
We must always be truthful. Can we be
so and not be rude2 Most certainly.
There comes that dreadful bore, whose
company is so disagreeable. Just before
he enters two aequaintances have been
discussing him, that is to say, not quite
cursing him. Why should they "gush'
al his entrance? Why should they take
him in their arms in rapture2 Willthat
cnre him2 viii it not confirm him in
bis intolsrable habits2 They suppose
- at they have been polite: They will
~ IN; ,ye themselves by malediction on
rem rem -hen he shall have been departed.
~ nun " be better TO sit still in silent
~ sts'.So,7 meu.I = until his heart became
ma Y tS ,b q bense Of your suferings.
TL 1Uucneu .;rht J cure, him. II it did not, il
would save your conscience. ,. -
"Not at home, says the servant W
the visitor. But the. lady lS a. nome, ONE,
She is deep in novel wneh sne mus
finish How could she die IN ease II sne
should he called to depart this lie, with
ont knowing which of the characters
Uss ,,s,-;ed 4 and which were, killed She
certainly has the right K, prefer nei
hook 10 her visitor, but she has no righ'
to put lie in the mouth OF her sers1nss atn
Ii simply teaches the servant thss .ne
mistress regards a ieias no onense,
When the maid practices on the mistress
what the mistress has taught the mald &c
nractice on visiters, what has the mis-
ress 10 say? Will she turn of her ser
INT and refuse to give her a eharhc
te,.Y' Will she state that she discharge
he because she was untruthfulf Mh'
Lr,mgbt that servant 10 be soI mg su
IF n be replied that nOonei is deceived
by - society fibs, then the answer !
ready: Why use themY Why not staI,
the facts9 The visitor can take no Of
fense II the person shall return word ina
he or she is engaged and will appoint
time when the visitor may call.
Itcannct be said that no one Is IN
;nred No lie can be uttered with what
ever Ieoncomitant Of WIS or suaVity Eniel
does not hurt the utterer character sh' .,
renatatjon. Men core to learn that th'
ibber" is not quite trustworthy 70 sa'
the least. Al
Fibs To children are Outrages on "
;,,noceht When DIR. Chalmers va
n wing at a great house where there wa
much company, lady was desiro9us Q
beari. ag his conversation through IN ~
evenit 2, but her child was sleepy IN
mother accompanied her little one ,
me cba, nber and soon returned 70 IN
Jrawing. room where she boasied OF he
ouick sne cess by The siratagem ot pul
ting on b. .er gown and pighteap a.