Smyrna times., 1881-10-05
Telling the Truth.
TRIALS OF A MAN WHO DETERMINED TO DO
IT

IT.
"You can't live three hours and tell the
exact truth throughout that time without
getting yourself into trouble" said gen
tleman to me few days since. l didn't
flush, though l felt like so doing; but soon
recovered sufficiently to retOrt tersely.
Don't judge all men by yourself" A
provoking grin Overspread his cOunte-
nance as he said, i repeat it; should you
follow such a course you would be fit
subject for the lunatic asylum before
night" and then he coolly explained:
First he Modified my troubled spirit by
saying that he regarded me as the emblem
of veracity and when l murmured "YOu
f1atter me-" reiterated his belief. But the
idea he wished to convey was that no per-
son could openly express the dictations of
their conscience without involving them
selves in a scrape before long. He had
never tried the experiment himself, but
he would be pleased to have me do so.
Oh; hOulo hC. HClI3
But the iron of insinuation had entered
my soul and ! secretly resolved last week
to attempt it for my own ediication. 1t
may interest our readers 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 l had no one to talk to, but as
went down to the breakfast table l girded
myself with the invisible but effective
armOr of caution. | was very reticent on
all subjects; so much SO, in fact, that my
manner excited comment. Was / we'll {?
Yes. Was anything the matter? No.
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 ! didn't lie
throughout that meal.
Fearing the consequences OF remaining
at home, | started for a stroll, but after a
short walk 1 saw approaching me the very
person whom would then wish to avoid
for a few hours, Miss Lively. Woman
like, she is both garrulous and fond OF
compliments. Knowing her feminine fail
ing in this respect l am always lavish in
my encomiums on her appearance, man.
ners, speech, ETC., dropping many little
white lie during short conversation with
her. Now was the test. With u mere
salutatiOn attempted to pass, but
SHE WAS NOT IN A HURRY,
and brought me to a standstill with the
command and query, "Stop! Aren't you
! glad to see me?" For a moment in a rush
of thought, forgetting all else but my
avowed adherence to the truth, STAN.
mered: "rm not glad you met me just al
this time" and then with hasty "Ex
cuse me-" hurried off, leaving her to &C
straight to my heme and question as tC
my sanity.
A little further on 1 met Bob. HC
noticed my flushed appearance and in
quired as to its cause. "Oh, I'm boreC
too much; talked to DEATH" said; "anC
would you believe it, Bob, my bosom
friend went off in huff" / now begar
to mediate, but while l was musing tn,
fire burned. Only about one-half tn,
time allotted for the experiment had ex
pired, and had as yet confined my asser
tions to the strictest truth. But whithe
could go without coming in contact will
curious and questioning mankind? l hat
it, would seek the seclusion which tn
woodland grants. would spend tn
remaining hours where surely l woul,
meet with no interruption. No soone
had l entered the quiet forest, however
than, as though the fltes were against me
l met too more lady friends who wer
gathering MOSES. Immediately felt
presentiment that failure was at hand.
could not avoid conversation, but truste,
to the
UTILITY OF MONOsYLLABIC ANSWERS
to carry me safely beyond the breaker
into which 1 had unwittingly drifted.
To shirk or evade Q question could nc
conscientiously deem to be fair, and $
when, after few commonplace remark,
one of the ladies asked "Why were yo
not at Mrs. F.'s reception last night ?"
quietly replied; u didn't wish to go.
Why not9 and many other questions fol
lowed in consequence Of fearless answer.
and so In less than ten minutes had dC
livered an opinion anything but oompl
mentary to Mrs. f., her husband an
many of their guests. OF course all thi
was carefully noted in the mind Of tn
fair ones to whom was talking, and {
course Mrs f. knew of it few hour
later, as did also all the other parties cor
cerned, and may add that the variation
made in my original story by their il
formant did not tend to pacify then
The plot began TO deepen and foun
myself the unfortunate victim of the wrat
of score OF persons; threatened thrasl
ings are impending, and truly there
enough "gall in my Ink" for once. hay
lost friends and gained enemies; am
martyr of the cause of truth and justice
! believe that the emulation of Washing
TOMS veracity should not extend beyon
> question of cutting cherry trees; hay
been forced 20 the conclusion that if ii
way OF the tFapsgFessog III bard, the pat
y of the man who would be truthful Vpd,
all circumstances is even more Eugge
and discouraging. Lob, well, just try