The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-02-13
COUNTERFEIT COMPLIMENTS.
The HoILswaes. Of Mutual AAmiraeioa -
cicty kiattery.

cicty klattery.
There Is great deal for US 70 hear
and TO learn about ourselves that Is
disagreeable, SO long as we are human
and consequently imperfect beings.
The choice is between knowing our de-
fects-a fault understood Is half cured
or hugging ourselves in the convic-
ton that we are as tasteful, As well
bred, as intelligent and high-minded az
We ST ould or can be, and making our
selves ridiculous often in this belief
nothing is SO suprcmrly absurd as .
little mutual admiration society of such
. kind, or SO treachcrons, let me add
The selfishness OF human nature il
there under the pleasant batteries and
soothing manners, and no persons have
their sensibilities and self-love so easily
scratched as your hyper-amia bic folk,
who can scarcely bear 10 hear you
speak against the east wind, be-
cause it blows where they came
from The ingram truth tellers,
who speak truth from instinct
and obligation. are the kindest. most
self-sacrihcing and most faithful Of
friends They say disagreeable things
when the saying is necessary. aud ~
costs them much more To speak them
than to lend their last hundred dollars
Induly disagreeabie things are ofeen
TO moro the truth than the fictions
which we call politeness. The end of
truth Is neither to please nor TO dis
please, but to say the thing which Is,
and TO avoid saying the thing which il
no. When we are asked for bread ara
We to hold out in return the empty
hand, or give the stone wrapped ia
paper and nicely tied? We would not
pass counterfeit coin for worlds, how
Is il then that we are not ashamed Of
passing counterfeit opinions and COM
pliments daily? Harsh language, do
you say? We are growing so finicaA
that we scarce dare speak of the mari
dian crossing the equator for fear OF
hurting the feelings of either the
equator or the meridian. The deini-
ton of a lie is IAN untruth told with
intent 10 deceive" aud falls. opinions
answer this description a. thoroughly
as anything else.
Truth-telling people are not 10 pleas
ant 20 spend quarter of an hour with
Is fistterers. but they wear better IN
the end of the tvcnty-four. l know .
woman who has the ar. Of accidentally
saying In conversation the incest
things. things that make you want -
put your arm about her. or kiss her
hand in thanks You near her say open
Is one day that she il fond enough Of
hearing pretty things not TO care
whether they are genuine or not, aud
your folly is not so superlstiye that you
can take much comfort IN her favor
after that You come 10 know the
counterfeit nickel, no matter how
bright ID is, and soon dsspise people
whs are passing spurious coin on you
every day. Two or three busy men
know who look up from their desks -
give me unqualified sincerity Of opin-
ion, whether | like il OF not, ! would
not part with their frisndship for their
weight in gold One girl I know. still
g. school. has such a loysabis. friendly
way Of telling the candid truth-teIl.
Ing IL az though shs thoaght too much
Of you 20 possibly do ssherwise-thas
hearts clssve 70 her aud love xosa with
her steps. and will % the end OF her
pilgrimage Telling The truth Is love
Here Is the secret 81 character, the
great secret which girls aEa womss
need % learn anew. Truta. even in
little things, a the SOL in which love
roots deep and branches vide-MrN
baz'iton Hott Ia Lsdiss' HsAs Joss
nal