New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-07
IN BEHALF OF LIARS.
THEY ARE TOO NUMEROUS TO BE TREATED
LONGER WITH CONTEMPT.

IN BEHALF OF LIARS.
THEY ARE TOO NUMEROUS TO BE TREATED
LONGER WITH CONTEMPT.
TO tho Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: "You tell that which is not Is the Turks
wny OF saving what the American would express Dy
the two words "You le." SO uncommon Is the act
OF living in Turkey that they have no single woru
TO express the idea, but have to resort to to lore
going crcnmocution This Is an indubitable PROOF
OF the backwardness OF oriental civilization FOR
there is no cainsaying the fact that the prevalence
Of living is one OF the marks OF enlightened civnha
ton The savage rarely lies. AS striking instance
q, tbs note how be adorns himself for festive occa-
sons His face Is covered with bright yellow ana req
po,nt daubed over with generous prodignlity OF
green spots But there is no attempt at dccepuoh'
lie Is satisfied with Ids brilliant appearance, ana
never once thinks Of trying 10 make people believe
that all this glamor Of cooring Is his natural SKIN
lie has not yet reached the point where art ana cV
nzaaOn begin. Compare with Nis uhe pohsnel
dame OF our enlightened age. The rouge ana Po"uer
and pencings all so artistically npphed 10 her
face that the eye OF the observer is completely de
ceived There Is no telling whether the dehcate col
orlng Is natural or artificial Neither can you @Ii
what is artificial In the outline OF the waist or in tho
makeup OF tic hair. The deception Is so compete
that I'm spite OF our superior knowledge we forget ta'
there Is any deception. This IS true enllghtenmeht
civilization art 1t is all a splendid lie. inhhi'ey
superior to the uncOuth truth OF the savage
Well does Bacon remark in his Essay on Truth +:
"Truth is n naked and open daylight that doth not
show the Mosques and memories and tnumphs OF the
world half 60 stately and dalntlly as candelglts.
Truth may perhaps come the price OF pearl, that
showeth best by day. but 10 Will not rise TO the prcc
OF diamond that showeth best In varied lights lEe
mixture OF a lie doth even add pleasure
Truth IS the foundation Of all science so the lie IS
the basis OF all art And the art Of lying Is therefore
b,c Inpg h1.an dpftted
simple and held in apparent contempt by the CRAFTY
but this selfsame hypocrca abuse and affected ais
dan Is tho greatest Of all lies.
II Is time that some plain truths wero uttered on
this long neglected and much mSrepresehted SUBJECT
II i inst as well TO recognize the ncontrovertbe fact
that the lie has come TO stay. II is an ihpor'""'
factor In our social system, concomitant OK our
civilization. Its misuse is to be cohdemhca 's p'opo'
use 20 be scduously cultivated.
To rise In business In society, in politics, or any
thing outside Of the domain OF pure science Porson
must b skllful liar The art OF lying Is one oi mo
great secrets OF success. The man who adhercs stricy
10 truth seldom rises above mediocrty. lie Is ai""9o
eccentric and generally dull, narrow minced msiPu
or msanthropic. Show me great man ana Will
show YOU a great liar. This may seem monstrouS
proposition but little reflection will show IL 70 DO
re without any dIsparagement either. to the persons
copcerned A high position cannot be held "ithout
copious indulgence in lies. Disraeh was an utter
failure as long as he remained honest ana truthful
lIo gave utterance 10 every Idea ttmt alVee III lis
Youthful brain. He a Radical OF the worst type
lie commanded no following because he could not even
command himself But 10, a change suduehN W'A
pIoce lie had mastered the art Of lying. He became
the leader Of the Conservatives and remained 50 uhi
his death. lie one of the most magnificent mars
Tint England ever had, and thus enabled 10 90
more for the people Of England than any o'ner His'
statesman not excepting Gladstone
WHY a man TO be truthful in most Of the walks OF
life must make a martyr of himself Need We mon
tion Jesus Christi a lie would have saved his hie'
lie would have saved the great Socrates A lie aid
save Gnllco from the Of the lnquSition Even
orr own great Washington. " the man who never toin
a lle,- made use OF a mastery lie ana tncrSo'
saved his country ut the most critical period III 10
history IL was on the evening Of January :, ILL.,
when his army lay encamped only few miles from
m. British under CORVALLIS and apparently at their
mercy on tho next morning it seemed his capture
vouId be Inevitable He had only handful OF ragged
poory fed and disheartened soldiers The country was
in despair People everywhere began 10 aoahdoh INC
csuse of freedom and went over TO the RoyalS'S'
Congress had fed from Philadelphia To Bailhoro
for safety The capture Of Philadelphia, winch See'u
imminent would virtually seal the fate OF the cooniS's
In this predicament Washington made use OF clever
stratagcm. rise or ne-for the last includes tLe
two former At dead OF night he led his army
stealthIly away over the frozen roads. few men
yer,, left behind keep tho campires biihnR u. NY.
tho early morning and few scattered pckets gave INV
impression that the whole American army nay Durl"i
In sIumher Dut with the dawn tie Britsh were
aroused by the roar OF cannon Ten miles AWAY torh
wallis had been Outgcncrallcd. \ detachment OF the
rear ~ his army was being attacked by the Americans
and he hascned TO the rescue. hut IL was 700 islc,
Tho battle OF Princeton was won. tofn""Hs ~
forced 10 retreat IN order Ia protect his stores. i
dcp,aa was saved the people regnineu henr,, anu
tho cause OF the colonies was once more luu vi ~
courncement And all by means OF II mastery ~:
mi while so much lying l. going on AL about Us, !.
seems TO he held In such disiavor that people "no
ofroId IN sneak their honest convictions rcgnrong To-
There st exists ttut barbartc prejudice against the
llc Young people are SIN enl0inrI py . tnc.p c"a una
not 70 indulge In It under any circumstances ana
yct they behold these elders continually resVIr
ing 10 all manner Of conventional Hes. Ana ti"y
themselycs are rs often rcprOved Tor tehlne ulc
truth NJ for telling lie. In fact. they gilusi'y pr
ceive that the worst offence they can fOut y 10 "n
unpleasant truths. Even clumsy II" Is iouho l"
mo- more acceptable tiNn unrmcly truth.
Would IL not be much better Tor people 10 stoP
irving :, deceive themselves and admit frankly ana
snnsibly the necessity Of living and the desbiuty OF
doing il WELL There would then be much more nom
cstv In this world. however paradoNical uS may
sccu, for n great deal OF self deception Would 10
rendered unnecessary II the lie were eliminated from
our social and political fahrc-not 10 mention relHoh
there would remain nothing but bleak ana hoihey
Lei MS then drop this childish prejudice against tho
uo Iet ns admit II 10 its proper place In the anar'
III life and let us henccforh cultivate us SINFUL
and nroncr use. when occasion jnstifcs Ana WIN
Dacon wa NAV then say: at Is not the lie tat
setb through the mind but the lie that slnketh In
and settIeth in that doth hurt -
New York, Feb. Il, l0O-' ~,hr p'"AO-'