The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1886-09-30
THE SPIRIT OF TpIrrn


injurious results easily traced. there
are few who resoIutely set their faces
against absolute deceit Of every kind.
The direct untruth, or the covert IN
situation that poisons the reputation
OF man, is justly censured but the
amlable falsehood, uttered in the in
terest Of fashion or hattery, smiled
over and excused. The dishonesty
that eliminates in fraud or forgery
or embezzlement is condemned as a
crime; but the dishonesty which as
sumes false colors, and pretends to
be what it is not and to have what it
has not, it is allowed to flourish and
succeed.
1t does not require much sagacity,
however, to perceive that all deceit
of word and of life is of the same ma
turc and that, unless the lighter
and least injurious manifestations
OF it are seriously frowned down and
resisted, there can be no security
against other and more clearly hurt
full ones. Indeed, it is always impos-
sible to estimate the consequences Of
right and wrong doing, and apart
IRON that, faith in the right itself
Is the surest foundation on which to
build. \ thorough trust in truth of
word and honesty Of purpose,
and sincerely of life, instilled in ear
ly years, and held fast through all
the chances and changes OF life, helps
most effectively to prevent the dark
er forms Of falseness and dishonor,
which We SO deeply dcplore. lie who
learns habitually to resist small temp
tations is seldom led astray by great
ones, and there is certainly room for
doubt whether those who deceive in
the interests Of amiability or parti-
sanshlp, or to promote some cause
good in itself, do not bear large
share Of the blame which is unhesi-
tatingly thrown upon men whose
temptations are greater, and whose
deceit seems Of a darker hue.
The cause OF the truth is much
larger than the mere practice Of YER
aclty. To speak truly is one OF its
important elements, but to think the
truth, to desire the truth, and to live
the truth, are equally included.
There is for instance, a very common
species Of untruthfuness manifested
IN the various cmployments of life.
Honest, truthful work is the best
work OF which a man is capable; not
always that which makes the best ap-
pearancc, or commands the best pay
ment, Or wins the highest approval
Though these things are frequently
accompaniments), but the work which
has own conscience approves as the
best he can perform. 70 work truth
fully there must be nothing which
pretends to be better than it is. no
sham materials, no inferior substan-
ces or fabrics passing Oft for superior
ones, no appearance Of labor or skill
that has not been honestly put into
it. Whether the work be that of
fashioning nail or building an edi-
flee, or writing a poem; whether it
be the training Of vine on the wall
or the training of a child in the way
he should go, it is the rare and noble
effort to put into it the very best la
Dor and skill and thought and meth
cd that makes it absolutely truthful
and valuable work Directly The de-
sire comes i'll to make it seem better
than it is-t have it rated above its
merits, to be payed beyond its worth
then the spirit Of truth is sacrificed
and the spirit OF deceit is developed,
and who may foretell to what such
developments may tend ?
There are untruths and receptions
that are thought trihing because no
harm comes to them, and
others which are upheld on the
ground of some supposed good that
Is to follow. All this is like trihing
with poison, under the delusion that
it is harmless and may be helpful.
The opium eater foresees no evil to
come from the small amounts which
satisfy his craving and give him pleas
ant visions, but he is laying the foun-
dations Of physical ruin and nficting
incalculable misery on posterity. SO
falsehood in all its shapes, graceful
and airy though they may be, HARM
less and trilling as they may appear,
should be stunned as a moral poison
that only can work moral ruin. Help
our youth to imbbe with their ear
Hest breath the spirit OF truth; let
them acquire the habit not only of
true and earnest speaking, but of
truthful, honest and sincere living;
let them be inspired with a love of
reality and a hatred Of shams, with
desire not to appear what they ought
to be what they would wish to appear.
Thus truthful heart and truthful lips
and truthful lives will unite to make
the coming generation nobler, and
happier men and women, and more
valuable citizens than any that has
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