The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-09-20
Reflections on Truth From Different
Authors CulIed bu D. D.

Longfellow in Hyperion gives this
definition:
Truth is thought which has assumed
it's appropriate garm ents either ip words
or actions; while Falsehood is thought
which disguised in words or actions not
it's own, comes before the blind old
world, as Jacob came before the patri,
arch Isaac, clothed in the goodly raj
ment of his brother Esau And the
world like the patriarch is often de-
ceived; for though the voice is j; cob's
voice, yet the hands are the hands of
Esau, and the false takes away the
birthright and the blessing from the
true. Hence it is that the world so often
lifts up its voice and weeps. "
Oliver Wendell Holmes in his Autocrat
OF the Breakfast-table speaks in seem
ingly condoning manner of social lying
| thus:
Good feeling helps society to make Ii
ars of us all-not absolute liars but such
careless handlers of the truth that its
sharp corners get terribly rounded.
Yet we are not justified in saying he
makes plea for lying. for We recognize
his statement as fact, and he may be
simply obeyiDg the highest dictates OF
truth in his writings when he portrays
things as they actually exist: for as
George Elliot says in Adam Bede. -
aspire to give no more than faithful
account of men and things as they have
mirrored themselves in my mind. The
mirror is dou btless defective; the outlines
will sometimes be disturbed; the refiec-
too faint or confused; but | feel as
much bound to tell you, as precisely as
can, what that reflection is, as if were
in the witness box narrating my exper-
ience on oath
Then again in the same work Holmes
says. Il would have woman true as
Death; at the first real lie which works
from the heart outward, she should be
teuderly chloroformed into better
world, where she can have an angel for
governess, and feed on strange fruits
which will make her all over again even
to her marrow and bones" This is "a
[ high enough standard for woman. OF
course he means for men to be true also,
else woman in her singleaess of purpose
, would become prey to the dupnclty OF
! man.
A lie is the first symptoms OF decay in
character. 1t is the beginning of dishOn-
esty. Dishonesty in business, in social
II life and what is of the highest moment
10 uS-ulSuOucstS WIN Jul ihhNi -
Ruskin says of business in his Ad Va
], lerem "In all dealings whatsoever in
e sisting on entire openness and stern full
r fillment.
Our social untruth is well illustrated
in Bassanio's confession to Antonio III
r Merchant of Venice. "By something
Y showing more swelling part than my
!, faint means will grant continuance.
Truth to one IS highest self is admirably
e expressed by Emerson. II will SO trusl
o that what is deep is holy, that will dc
: strongly before the sun and moon what
u ever inly rejoices me :or the heart ap
points" He who does that cannot b.
r false to himself and, guided by an edu
a Gated conscience, must be the opponent
!. of purest truth. This is what is mean
by Shakespeare in his famous counse
of Polonius to Laertes.
o Without quoting entire this admirable
il bit of parental advice, | will simply
n strike the key note and leave the readel
to refer to the text in Hamlet;
ITO thine own self be true and IT mus
I, follow as the night the day, thou cans
is not then be false to any man.
"Behold thou desirest truth in the III
ward parts. Fps. 81 :6.
" This crowning testimony TO the hlgf
e ideal of truth is given by David. -
', Southern Reporter.