Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-03-30
society Fibs.
By Rev. DR.. Deems, pastor ofthe "Chur
of the Strangers" New York.

by Kew Or. Deems, pastor ofthc Church
OF the strangers" New York.
Truth is truth. And everything
else issomethingelse, no matter wheth.
er it be uttered by the prim lips of a
diplomat or the budding mouth of a
young beauty. You may call it paste
diamond, but that does not make it less
paste or more diamond. You call a
lie "a fib," but it is lie all the same.
You may whitewash a mud wall, but
that does not change the mud into
marble or granite White lies are
Ties even if they be white as lilies.
1t Is wrong to give mitigating names
to bad things. 1t begets a color-blind-
ness in morality. Itbreeds loose IDEAS
of right: 1t is uncharitable to ones 8
self Why call lie "a fib?" 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 nearer
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. lift is, then We have already as
signed a reason for preference of the
latter word. Fit is not, what does it
mean? 1t Is supposed to signify a
proposition which is neither a lie nor
truth. There is no such thing. The
word leads to the supposition that
there liz, and therefore is bad.
What, then, are we to do in society
We must always be truthful. Can we
be so and not be rude? Most certain
ly: There comes that dreadful bore,
whose company is so disagreeable.
just before he enters two acquaint-
ances have been discussing him, that
is to say, not quite cursing him. Why
should they "gush" at his entrance !?
Why should they take him in their
arms in rapture? Will that cure him I?
Will it not confirm him in his intoler-
able habits? They suppose that they
have been polite. They will relieve
themselves by malediction on him
when he shall have been departed. 1t
would be better TO sit still in silent
martyrdom until his heart became
touched with a sense ofyour sufferings
That might cure him. fit did not,
1t would save your conscience.
Not at home, says the servant to
the visitor. But the lady il at home.
She is deep in a novel which she must
finish. How could she die in ease if
she should be called TO depart this
life, without knowing which of the
characters married and which were
killed? She certainly has the right to
prefer her book to hervisitor but she has
no right TO put liein the mouth other
servants. 1t simply teaches the SER
want that the mistress regards a lie as
no offense When the maid practices
on the mistress what the mistress has
taught the maid to practice on visitors,
what has the mistress 10 gay? Will
she turn off her servant and refuse to
give her ''character?' Will she sta te
that she discharged her because she
was untruthful2 Who brought that
servant 10 PESO?
lfit be replied that no one IL de.
ceived by society iiba," then the an
swer is ready: Why use them? Why
not state the facts? The visitor can
take no otfense ii the person shall
return word that he orshe isengagedand
will appoint time when the visitor
my call.
1t cannot be said that no one is
injured. No lie can be uttered with
whatever concomitant Of wit or sauvi-
ty which does not hurt the utterer's
character and reputation. Men come
to learn that the "fbber" is not quite
trustworthy, to say the least.
fibs to children are outrages on the
innocent, When DIR. Chalmers was
staying at great house where there
was much company, a lady was DESTROYS
Of hearing his conversation through
the evening, but her child was sleepy.
The mother accompanied her little one
TO the chamber and soon returned 10
to the drawing room where she boast
ed of her quick success by the strata
gem OF putting on her gown aud night
cap aud seeming 10 90 bed with the
child, and the ruse had the desired Of.
feet The good and great doctor had
the moral courage 70 rsbuke her for
letting the last thing which the child
heard fror its mother b. a lie
4 ssr.- 1900 - y. o 4. '-.s.