Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-11-17
Telling the Truth-And What Came
of 1t.


g You can't live three hours and tell
the exact truth throughout that time
without getting yourself into troubled"
sad gentleman to me a few days
since. l didn't flush, though felt like
80 doing; but soon recovered sufficient
" to retort, testify: .'Don't Judge all
men by YOURSELF A provoking grin
SCI repeat it; should you follow such
course you would be fit subject Tor
tunatic asylum before night" and then
he coolly explained. First he Modified
my troubled spirit by saying he regard
ed me as the emblem of veracity, and
when murmured: "You flatter me-"
reiterated his belief. But the idea he
wished to convey was that no person
could openly express the dictations OF
their conscience without involving them
in q scrape before long. He had never
tTied the experiment himself, but he
would be pleased to have me do so. Oh,
would he? Indeed? Well, declined.
But the iron of insinuation had entered
my soul and 1 secretly resolved last
week to attempt it for my own edifica-
ton. 1t may interest the reader to know
what were the results.
The momentous day for the test
dawned brightly and all went smoothly
for half an hour after rising, since had
no one to talk to, but as l went down to
the breakfast table girded myself with
the invisible but effective armOr of eau
lion. 1 was very reticelt on all subjects;
SO much so, in fact, that my manner ex-
cited comment. Was 1 we'll? Yes.
Was anything the matter? Had l
reason for keeping quiet? Yes. What
was it? None of their business. Could
they help me? Yes, by keeping still.
And SO, self-isolated, gulped my coffee
In solemn silence. But I didn't lie
throughout that meal.
Fearing the consequences of remain
ing at home, l started for stroll, but
after a short walk saw approaching
me the very person whom 1 would wish
to avoid for a few hours, Miss Lively.
Woman-like, she is both garrulous and
fond of compliments. Knowing her
feminine failing in this respect, am al
ways lavish in my encomiums on her
appearance, manners, speech, ETC.,
dropping many a little white lie during
q short conversation with her. Now was
the test. With mere salutation l at
tempted to pass, but she was not IN
with the command and query: Stop.
Aren't you glad to see me?" For mo-
ment, in a rush of thought forgetting all
else but my avowed adherence to the
truth, stammered, elm not glad you
met me just at this time," and then,
with hasty "excuse me-" l hurried
off, leaving her to go straight to my
home and question as to my sanity.
A little further on met Bob. He no.
dced my flushed appearance and in
quired as to its cause: ooh, I'm bored
too much; talked to DEATH" [ said; and
would you believe it, Bob, my bosom
friend, went off in huff. 1 now began
to mediate, but while l was masing the
fire burned. Only about one-half the
time allotted for the experiment had
expired, and had as yet confined my
assertion to the strictest truth. But
whittier could I 60 to avoid coming in
contact with curious and questioning
mankind? 1 had it; | would seek the
seclusion which the woodland grants.
I would spend the remaining hours
where surely would meet with no in
corruption.
No sooner had entered the quiet for
est, however, than as though the fates
were against me, / met two more lady
friends, who were gathering MOSES. L
Immediately felt a presentiment that
failure was at hand. | could not avoid
conversation, but trusted to the utility
of monosyllabic answers to carry me
beyond the breakers into which l had
unwittingly drifted. To shirk or evade
question I could not conscientiously
deem to be fair, and SO when, after a
few commonplace remarks, one of the
ladies asked: "Why were you not at
Mrs. F.'s reception last night?' quiet
iy replied: 81 didn't wish to 60" Why
notp and many other questions followed
in consequence of fearless answers, and
so in less than ten minutes had deliv-
cred an opinion anything but compli-
mentary to Mrs. F., her husband and
many of their guests OF course all this
was carefully noted in the minds of the
fair ones to whom was talking, and of
course Mrs F. knew of it few hours
later, as did also all other parties con-
-cerned, and may add that the varia-
tons made in my original story by their
informant did not tend to pacify them.
The plot began to deepen and | found
myself the unfortunate victim of the
wrath of q score of persons; threatened
furnishings are impending, and truly
there is enough 'gall in my INK for
once. have lost friends and gained
enemies; am martyr of the cause Of
truth and justice; believe that the en-
ulation of Washington's veracity should
not extend beyond a question of cutting
cherry-trces; L have been forced to the
conclusion that if the way of the trans
gressor is hard, the path of the man who
would be truthful under all circum-
stances is even more rugged and dis
couragiug. I-oh, well, just try it your
self, for though may moralize | an
tar from morality, since last evening
made social call upon the man who
proposed that 1 should stir up sucf
strife. He leaves no family. Notice O.
funeral hereafter.-N. Y. Mail.
Hygiene Of the Teeth.