The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-12-05

LII, MlN N IOO La, DGo11"DA1
flown, viewy, impossible. Yet, if in our
heart of hearts we believe in the dignity,
beauty and omnipOtence of truth, no
other conclusion can be arrived at than
that deceit, whether in things great or
small deserves no quarter.
Popular sentiment looks leniently on
little hypocrisies. Minute subterfuges
are allowed to have place in the rela-
tions of the most intimate and loving
so much so that we are surprised
when we find some one perfectly |
straight, above board, unafraid OF being |
understood, with no concealmentS. We
give fine names to trivial hypocrisies,
and we are pleased with the cleverness
that is displayed. Call it finessing, and
it loses all touch of grossness; or, If we
wish for more dignitied phrase, let us
name it diplomacy
Not to speak the very truth, but to
have a certain degree of show and pre-
tense and overstatement, as in flattery,
which is at least the fringe of hypocrisy,
is considered agreeable by the many
who like their intercourse to be as good
as a play. Is not little hypocrisy
necessary, or, at any rate. allowable,
and does it not give piquancy to that:
OF course we have not in mind for
moment the dramatic villain, who is
hypocrisy persOniiied-th 1ago and
Pecksnitfs.
Nobody will attempt wholesale de-
fense of organized deceit-hut may we
not for good ends or for the sake OF
liveliness and inrident toy with the
lighter and less palpable forms of de-
ception? Cases may be stated respect
, ing which Judgment can hardly be pro-
nounced impromptu. A young fellow
l has slipped into some trouble that he
}. knows will cause anguish to his mother
|. should it reach her ears.
Perhaps it is not very heinous Of
fense in the eyes of the world, and the
y youth may feel in his own mind that
y the gravity with which his mother
II would regard it is hardly justifiable
D. but he is aware that the knowledge OF
It it will cause her intense pain, that ii
/ will partly deface the almost tlaWless
70 image of him that she has built up. Is
e it allowable in such circumstances fol
u a man to be hypocrite to save his
mother disappointment and pain? May
e we not soften the deceit practised II
% that case and call it, not hypocrisy, bu
II kind reticence? The answer will de
le pend largely upon ones view OF th'
- value of truth.
'e Is it kindness to the mother to prac
70 tise deceit which she might deplor
IN even more than the fault which the de
n1 ceit is designed to hide? One coul
easily build up an heroic instance
the sacrifice of life or a soul lest pal
or dishonor should be brought to on
~ who is loved more dearly than life. Blu
sv suppose the one for whom the sacrific
~ is made discovers why it was mad
as then the anguish is tenfold; the dece
ar has broken down and left only heri
Id. age of pain.
~, DO hypOcrites as rule know the
of are hypocrites, or do they deceive then
to selves? In reply to that we should sa
that there must come moments Whe
oh every scurvy knave totals himself u
to to something like his true value; b'
~. these candid self-suits are rarely mad
bo and usually the hypocrite deceives hlr
,nr self almost as readily as he deceives h
nor acquaintance. That is certainly Il
&c case with the religious hypocrites WI
rb+ have figured as the worst of the trlt
to Men who "borrow Heavens livery
the serve the Devil in generally becoI
ow their own dupes. They gradually cor
not to play two characters without seei
the incongruity, except now and tn
r of in flash of insight, when they gu
on conscience by resolving to hold repel
, it. ance as a reservei in hand. Asa mode
{ us writer has cleverly said, such men "li
by in two moral atmospheres and are n
by uraliZed citizens in both" The o
se? side world, which is annoyed at
say pious assumption of superiority tt
risy marks the religious hypocrite, is apt
igh. conclude that the religion prOfessed