The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-02-09
(From The Saturday Review.)
Lying AS a Fine Art.

a falsehood, Mr.. Giles" In this
simple conversation, which arose, if
we recollect rightly, out Of disputed
question Of fact as to the capture Of
Oliver Twist, we have controversy
reduced to its first elements. As
cultivated fruits have tendency to
return to their wild original, so
political contradiction shows a dis
position to assume the direct and
primitive shape in which it was
practiced by Messrs. Giles and Brittles.
One Of the most remarkable instances
of this emergency Of the aboriginal
rough is supplied in conversation,
not imaginary, between DIR. johnson
and DIR. Adam Smith. HE told me, -
said the author Of "The Wealth of
Nations ''that I lied" "What did
you say to that?" 81 said that he
was the son Of a -" The authors
Of this period usually seemd to write
and speak in sort of ceremonial
court dress. Hume, in a letter to
Adam Smith, speaks Of ''Mr. Burke,
an Irish gentleman, who lately wrote
a very pretty treatise on the Sublime. +"
A curious correspondence has lately
been published between the president
of the local government board and
the editor of an evening newspaper.
Whatever praise Mr.. Chamberlain
may deserve, he is not entitled to the
undivided eulogy which Mr.. Matthew
Arnold gives to Sophocles. He does
not see life steadily, even if he sees it
whole. ''Insolence,' ''virulence," !"
"abuse, " ''real delight in the pain you
are able to infict," "the distorting
medium Of incrdinate egotism"-these
are a few of the complimentary
phrases which the controversalists
exchange. We venture to suggest
that there is a want of rhetorical
perception in this profusion Of
epithets; and that a slight infusion
of urbanity would give not merely
polish, but also keenness to their
weapons, and convert abuse into
irony. "A mixture Of lie," says
Bacon, in gustatory and connois-
seur-like manner, ''doth ever add
pleasure" But an out-and-out and
downright lie has brutality about it
which is repulsive. When there is an
attempt at mixture it is usually, in
our days, painfully inartistic.
Arbuthnot's discourse, or rather his
Proposals for printing very curious
discourse on the Art Of Political
Lying" might proftably be perused
by members of both Houses and
parties at the present time. He
divides lies into the lie auditory, the
lie refractory, and the lie translatory.
The first assigns a man a quality
which he has; the third transfers to
him something which belongs to
somebody else. All these forms of
falsehood ought to be applied with
caution. Thus notorious disbeliever
ought not to be represented as spend
ing whole days in his closet in his
devotions, but he may sit out public
prayers with decorum. The use of
the refractory lie is subject to the
same conditions, A frugal minister
should not be charged with profigacy
in the public expenditure, but he may
be charged with covetous boarding.
The translatory lie is, according to
Arbuthnot, the most effective, because,
the thing existing, it is only necessary
to transfer it. The application of
these methods to the personages Of
our own day may be left to the
ingenuity of the student. 1t is a
question, however, whether there
should not be some systematic in
struction in this important branch
of practical politics. 1t was disputed
among the ancients whether virtue
could be taught. The attempt has
not been very successful, whether
owing to the difficulty of the task,
the inefficiency Of the professors, or
the stupidity of the pupils. But that
vice can be taught there is no doubt
whatsoever. The State regulation of
vice has been much objected to; but
it seems desirable that our vices, if
they cannot be extirpated, should be
moderated and controlled. No one
can live much in the world without
being shocked by the reckless and
extravagant use of falsehood. There
is no proper economy Of it. The first
lie is told which comes into the
disputant's head. Fury ministers
arms, and usually uniting arms.
There is no proper adaptation of
means to ends. The wrong sort Of
lies are told to the wrong sort of
persons, about the wrong sort of
persons, on the wrong occasions, and
in the wrong manner. This goes on
in private life; but we are now con-
cerned with public lying-the lying
of ministers of State, Of members of
Parliament, of diplomatists, of town
councillors, and even of vestrymen.
We have lately seen the establishment
Of a College of Music and School of
Dramatic Art. Why should there
! not be College Of Political Lying,