The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1874-04-30
.YTnuoo AGIzEo moa4 aa7r4r
YERACITY.

It strikes me that honesty is thing which
we should not too finely discuss with ourselves.
It is one Of those subtitle, evanescent elements
that are not friendly to analysis ~ .'''''
It may not be unwise, however, to listen to
its discussion by others; as did the other day
when Abraham put in plea for the French
mans (and his own) method Of saying ''no,"
in order to hide the truth and give the impress:
sion of mo-" in preference to the Engisnman's
land 1saac's) method Of saying Eyes" in q
manner which equally hides the truth and gives
the impression Of "no."
The conversation was interesting. "Sup-
pose" said Abraham, II am asked an imperti-
nent question which, to answer eyasvely, is to
answer affrmatively-namely: according to
the facts. Suppose not only that the person
has no right to ask me the question, but, fur
ther, that great harm would be done to others
if l should answer it according to the facts.
Abraham under these circumstances, would
think he did well if he actually deceived his in
terrogatQr, without actually denying the facts.
But l deal in a plain, straitforward manner
with the difficulty, and Isaac calls me hard
names.
Furthermore" continued Abraham, II have
known Isaac to tell lie when he thought he
was telling the truth. For it is impossible to
show things as they are, and sometimes, tell
ing what is called the truth, is simply giving
currency to the most unfortunate falsehood." :"
That is IA pretty fair statement Of the case.
| happen to know that Isaac would make little
scruple at living lie. On the other hand
know Abraham to be genuinely conscientious
and to have downright detestation of false
hood and deception, .t...s .a -Hs.. s.#
And yet, though do not like Isaac's way,
l cannot approve Of Abraham's. In fact am
inclined tothlnk that Jacobs views on this sub
iect are more satisfactory than those OF either
of the others. They are not exactly a CON-
promise. but they indicate method lying bs-
! tween the two above noted; a method having
in it / know not what strange mixture Of frank.
ness and obscurity. Really, however, / find
myself quite at loss TO describe just the diff
ference; or to report any easily adaptable ex.
ample. es.sa t,I
Only those, of course, who think themselves
thoroughly honest can be startled by looking
into the matter. There are a great many of
us who are quite aware Of certain habit of
evasion, that may never reach the point of
downright deception; such of us will not be
so extremely surprised. perhaps, at discovering
the dangerous ground on which we
have sometimes stood. But those of us who
have great deal of conscientiousness, and, in
order to keep our mental powersin good work
| ing order, must not allow ourselves the luxury
Of dissimulation; we, say, may be startled in
finding how often we have wanted in perfect
fairness of front. d r'e.af.l 1860 80 fai
said at the outset that it might not be well
to inquire too curiously into these things. l
mean that it may be best to trust to our in
stincts, if our instincts are not warped. For,
really one is in danger either of becoming
morbid or of becoming JesuiticaL r...es
| knew q young person once who became
morbid. He would never say ut is so;" but
II think il is So" OF course there were times
when this sounded like idiocy; but he knew
there was doubt about pretty much everything
| in the world, and he considered that he was
merely consistent in embodylng that doubt in
relation to everything in the world about
which he was asked question. l need not
say that life was very dreadful to this young
person.
knew young person who became Jesuit
ical. He began in analysis, and ended in brib-
cry and corruption. " "+' "'' '''.'
There is, however, ore benefit to be derived
from moral and psychological studies of this
kind IF we are alive to our own shortcom-
incs, we will not be likely to make such outcry
at other peoples. Dear Mr.. Theological Con-
troversialist, yoAsay that the gentleman on the
other side is not honest; that he dare not tell
the world just what he believes. But are you,
yourself, quite frank, my friend7 Have you,
yourself, made your full confession in print!
Dare you say now, just where you suspect your
own cogitations are. carrying you9 AMIGO mio! MI
remember the house of glass and the dweler
therein.-The Old Cabinet. ...,s., b...,ara
Mon Law IN UrAH.-A prominent citizen
Iof Corrinne, Utah, was murdered on the night
Of the 5th inst, by Chnaman. under circut'-
stances OF peculiar atrOcity. The murderer