Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-02-02
The Man Who Never Lied.

The Man Who Never Lied.
BufIlo Telegraph.
Since the success OF my late expedi.
ton in the search of the egg Of Christ.
opher Columbus has become known
beyond the worm eaten antiquarian
association for the discovery G! the
rarities, | have been unremittingly
pursued by persons desirous OF nv
service in the special detective busi-
ness.
A good hatured but rich old virtu-
oso called upon me one morning and
introduced himself | asked him
whether | could do anything for him,
and he said he hoped so, but | could,
perhaps, tell better after he made his
wants known.
II have lived, said he, "a long time
upon this planet-have had unusual
opportunities and means Of seeing the
world-and | am pretty we'll assured
that there are very few rare or curl
GUS things that have not come to my
knowledge. Your fame" continued
he, has reached my ears, and, as you
have performed many apparent impos-
sibilities, it is fair to infer that you
are capaole OF accomplishing more |
desire, sir, to come across man who
never told liel Can you furnish
him?"
Indeed" replied l, you pay a very
high compliment to my powers. |
have no hesitation 10 confcssing that
the task Of finding a person, of any
reasonable age, who is guiltless Of
falsehOod, is very difficult one"
Yes, sir, my visitor returned, "it
is a job of surprising magnitude.
There is only one instance 10 history, |
believe, of a man who never told lie,
but he died long ago, and his great
virtue died with him. He exhausted
the subject"
81 presume, said l. you insist on
an out and outer thai is, one who
never told even the slightest 6b either
in joke or in an innocent, philosophical
manner"
YES, sir" he replied II want the
genuine article"
Alter few more remarks between
US, my customer withdrew. | had
bound myself to find man who had
never told a lie.
AT last, after spending money, tune
and health, without the remCtest
symptom Of success, | begun to feel
strong suicidal tendencies. wa.
within a weeks Journey from home.
Dark, indeed, had been my returning
path, and now the deepest gloom
weighed down my spirits. It seemed
10 me that nature was given up to
the sin of lying to greater extent than
| ever dreamed Of.
But somebody has said that ut is
always darkest Just before day" |
have the best reason for subscribing to
the perfect correctness of that
4pOthegm With what indescrihable
feelings, then, of triumphant JOY did
[ send off the following telegraphic
dispatch to my friend, the virtuoso:
Complete fruition has crowned my
work. / have this day found the object
of my search. No doubt of its genuinehess,
What shall / do with him27
In short time a response was re,
turned, in which, after being congratu-
lated, | was directed to bring my man
to him, spairing neither money nor in
auence for that purpose.
consulted with the gentleman, and
obtained his assent to the proposition.
de was perfectly willing to 60 with
me, and he evinced as much interest
in this novel business as either my
customer or myself.
found him comfortable apart
monts at one Of our best hotels, a d
sent for my employer. He came wit :
out the least delay.
And SO, my dear fellow, you have
found him?"
81 have" l replied, "but it was after
most arduous search" And aftel
telling him where to find him my dc
lighted customer withdrew while
sought that rest which my long worked
and over tired system required.
slept that night as one covered Will
laurels.
| had a very early caller the mex
morning, in my anxious customer. lii
quietly took a seat by my side, wearing
upon his face the most curiously sol
emu expression ever saw on human
pbysiognomy. Ho placed his hand OIL
my knee and looked into my face
Pausing a moment. he said
What is the matter with tina
mani"
Nothing, | hope said l, Ito hi
diseredit. He hasn't been lying t
you, has he2"
II think not" said my visitor, an
the frozen iS,e melted just little
why, sir, the fellows as dumb as Q
oyster"
That's correct, said /. "And h
has been ever since he was borI
Here continued, suiting the actio
to the word, ''is the joint affidavit
his father and mother 10 that effec
He has never spoken a word in hi
life. Ergo, he mover tod lie."