Smyrna times., 1875-07-21
For the SmyrnG Times.
The Witness

the whole truth and nothing but the truth =
AZ the sight of these words our minds in.
stinctively run back to courts Of Justice, and
we see man or woman almost unable tc
tell the truth because shrewd lawyers desire
to use their words in the interest of their
clients. There are other witnesses than
those employed to clear guilt and convict
Innocence, and the public would be bettered
i'll many ways if those capable of testifvng
truthiully of what they see and hear would
the ottener speak. False witnesses are
everywhere found,-who eXaggeratc all
they see, and always hear much more than
that which fell upon their Garland there
are prying witnesses, who by careful scru-
tiny, are able to publish the privacies of
their neighbors' houses, and to estimate to
a fraction the amount of felicity or un-
happiness contained in every house they
gain entrance. There may be other grades
OF wltnesses,-but for our purpose it suf
hccs to further notice only the true one,
who tells what hc knows, without anv
addition or subtraction, not as a tattler.
iauitinder, gossip or judgc, but rs a lover
of humanity, and with the desire to i'm
prove others by showing them their faults.
not Preaunling that he is faultleSS. for his
sPeseiAations relating to the public also
concern himself. He who now appears
before the people of this community, flat
tiers himself that he can make good his
claim to be claSSed among the last named
witnesses. While witness should tell
that which he knows with perSrccuitv and
compression. using no more words than
necessary, and only those that relate to the
subject, yet he who now presumes to speak
viii give his speculations on what i'm
presses him that the jury, who are the
readers of this paper, may the better
understand the subjects that have claimed
his attention, and at the same time be instruc-
ted and entertained. | do not wish to !
raise tao great expectations in the minds |
OF my readers, therefore | refrain from |
publishing an index of the subjects to be
treated in this PAPER, but will pomise to
souch those Things which more ESPECIALLY
concern the people OF this community. If
any are offended at my remarks. | assure
them that deal in no personalities. hut
rather in genelalitits which become pccu-
iiarlties. ana therefore the offended ones
are not angry with me. hut with their own
characters which they see reflected in my
words. One more point. hope that
many will appreciate the task have taken
upon myself. Any desiring 10 correspond
with mo may address The Witness" nj
the TINES office. Selfstyled critics NAV
zee nothing of merit in these my writings
1t were well for them to regard their
capacity and ability before they pass iudg
ment If ! can make folly more foolish.
show virtue to be exceedingly beautiful,
knock down here and there the villains.
jdleness and dissipation, help wives to be
more dutiful and husbands more constant.
impress upon the young that life is an
awful reality, worthy their best efforts to {
render it useful, noble and pure, reveal
some of tine inconsistencies and insinceri-
ties of society, with view to their remedy.
and afford innocent amusement and health ;
ful recreation, | shall not deem my task /
failure, and others will rejoice thet there
came forth true, honest witness
3n the great cities there are always c
occurrences of interest, which give the
people topics of conversation Murder. ;
robbery, arson, and all other crimes. are ,
being daily or nightly committed, and even I
ministers Of the Gospel, if not wicked, vet t
weak, at times aid in keeping the public q
mind from remaining in Il monotonOus -
c4o e a =.
hand, weddings in high life, fashionable t
funerals. and aristocratic births. hold the n
women, and many of the men, in aiterna-
conditions Of joy, sorrow and hope. ! r
might mention also balls, sOrecs, concerts Il
theatres, parks, and other like amusements. II
not noticing the spelling bees and Ccnten- u
NAL tea dTinllings, that break the eanui of :,
and furnish many with weapons ii
10 kill time. In our little town it is very c
rarely that any OF these crimes or gaities o
disturb the cyen flow of country life, and =;
yea notice thas the slightest breeze lashes IL
the waves into fury and the most uninter- ii
estipg common place produces Il commO-
ton. IF q man chooses to take to himself :,
a wife in another way than that prescribed, ci
avoids publicity and offcnds the curious ol
and inquisitive, it is the towns talk for u
weeks. A neas faoe at church gives fresh e. I,
ness to the conversation for the rest of the III
Sunday, while city bonnet or latest style j.
dress continues of interest during the u
entire week. have asked myself why ir
these little things are so much remarked? ? m
and tho ansyor 7 have fOuDd is AT Ipast | ST
satisfactory to me, viz: That in little towns a a
the majority of people have so little bust q,
ness Of their own that they find leisure to bc
attend to that Of their neighbors. All our &c
people are not 50 engaged, for some are so IN
selfish that they never concern themselves w.
ibout the affairs of others and never r.
20 from their homes to help another dl