The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-06-03
Truth and Accuracy.
philadelphia pa1Ledger.

| NAeh "a NNiAbtA1tN W hNSNihS3 ahN
that slovenly and careless use of words
which so frequently conveys untrue i'm
pressions. If: however, we could correctly
trace effects back to their causes, we should
discover that the former often grew out of
the latter. Those who have acquired the
habit of speaking loosely and inaccurately,
of using exaggerated language, and of
adding sundry embellishments to make
their speech more effective, have at least
laid foundation upon which, with given
motive, it would not be difficult to build
structure of consciously false statements
The motive may not be there and the false
hoods may never be spoken, but none the
less is the probability of their utterance
increased if, at any time, the temptation
arises.
On the other hand, tho habit of strict
and careful accuracy in speaking, of saying
neither more nor less than is felt or thought
or known, of recording facts, events and
scenes as correctly as possible, will form
the best possible safeguard against the
utterance of conscious untruth, however
strong may be the motive which may urge
it. One who has been thus trained, or
who has thus accustomed himself to rigorous
exactness of speech, will experience a sud
den shock at the suggestion of falsehood
or duplicity. His impulses will rebel
against it, and there will have to be vast
upturning of his nature before he can force
himself into it. Mr.. Edward p jackson,
in his prize essay on Character Building,
alludes to the effect of habit in this partic-
ular. al spoke without thinking, says
boy detected in falsehood IF | had
stopped to think moment should have
told the truth Does he know that he
has confessed, not one, but u thousand
falsehoods? If he had declared that he
had resisted his first good impulse, and
had sinned deliberately, it would have been
bad enough, indeed, but better, immeasur-
ably better, than it was. My hero would
have done neither the one thing nor the
other From his brave, clear eyes, and his
ready tongue, the truth would have leaped
forth instantly, pure, whole, unsullied."
In all our efforts to promote truthful
ness we do well to begin with cultiyating
accuracy. We need not merely the moral
averticn to lie, but the practical habit
of exactness in our words. Indeed, the
latter, when once thoroughly acquired,
will include the former, and much mote 1t
will lead us to condemn and avoid many
forms of untruth that are now palliated
and excused. There are the supposed
requirements Of etiquette in expressing
pleasure that is not felt and a iattery that
is not honest 1t is ayerred that such
things, with the other "white lies" of
society, do not really deceive--that they
are but polite nothings, which are taken
for their worth, or rather for their worth
lessness. II this be so, what object do
they serve or what reason can there be for
their continuance? Are we not, by their
repeated use, debasing the value Of langq-
age and lessening the reverence for truth ?
1t is not necessary to tell people that they
bore u.s. that we are glad that the evening |
is over, or that the interview has come to |
an end, or in any other way rudely to hurt |
their feelings. A little of the tact which
is so abundant in social circles will enable |
any one to avoid impoliteness without |.
sacrificing truth, and the result would be a
most wholesome return to sincerity, and to
the real meaning of what we say. As it
is, we have no means left to express our
real admiration and our real enjoyment
when they arc honestly felt.
Then there is the common habit of ex-
aggeration, so lightly censured, if at ALL
If accuracy were esteemed duty, how
would the frequent unbridled use of SUI
perlatives be treated? Certainly not with
the indulgence which is now extended to
them. There would be an instructive dis
pleasure at the random and overdrawn
language so much in vogue, and vigilant
effort to utter the exact shade of meaning,
by carefully selected words. Our English
language is rich and full, amply providing
abundant means for every graduation of
thought, and every shade of feeling, for
those who care to seek for it. To use it
thus is not merely an intellectual accom-
plishment; it is alse moral obligation in
the interests of truth, and should ever be
so regarded
There is no doubt that the earnest pur-
suit of knowledge in any direction contri-
butes largely to the habit of accurate truth
fulness. A desire and an effort to find out
the truth will tend Ia make us careful in
attering it, To weigh and to consider the
words of others will help us greatly to
weigh and to consider our own Ignorance
is resposible for much of the present care
lessness in speech, those who never study
shades Of meaning will not be likely to
exercise much judgment in selecting them
The cultivation of the senses is also a
valuable aid. To see keenly and clearly
what we look at and to hear actually and
correctly when we listen, are vast helps to r
the memory, and clear away many OF the
vagaries of the brain. In recounting these
things, confused and vague remembrance
of them often tempts US to alter and EN-
belish, so as to hide our perplexity. Could