The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-14
CONVENTIONAL LIES.

DdNlu ndU rare opportunity 10 lhtnOul Ine
deep places in mans character, and from the
fact that he never apologized for saying it it
may be taken for granted that it was not until
after calm deliberation that he said, CAN men
are liars" 1t is true he claims TO have made
the sweeping charge ain my haste" but it
needed those three words TO round out the
rhythm of that particular song of confession
and thanksgiving. But, anyway, David uttered
great truth when he said all men are liars,
however much it hurts to have to stand face to
face with ii ard acknowledge the corn. 1t is
true that the human family Is a family of
liars and it is also true that the advance OF
civilization to higher levels OF right conduct
intensifies the desire, or necessity if you like
that word better, to lie, and do not hesitate
TO say that it is altogether right that 1t should
be SO.
Whether we like to admit it or not it makes
no difference. Every man and every woman
is a Jekyll or Hyde, as occasion requires, and
l say they should be, for they are not only bet
ter themselves for being SO, but those to whom
they appear are better for the deception that
is practiced upon them. No doubt, my good
readers viii say am paradoxical, but l am not
so at all. There Is no such thing as entire and
perfect sincerity in speech or in act at all
times nor should there be. 1t is no eXaggera-
ton nor is IL any reflection upon the integrity
of any one to say that the cement which holds
together the several parts of the social and po-
litical editees of the community is composed
more or less of rank hypocrisy. In fact, it has
to be so composed, for society could not sur
vive the truth, the whole truth and nothing
but the truth single hour.
But like Max Nordau's way of telling the
members OF the human family that they are
liars better than l do David's. Nordau is no
more a respecter of the forms and customs of
society than David was, but he qualities his
bold assertions ometimes, which David never
did. David made the direct charge that every
man is liar, while Nordau, though saying
the same thing, administers small dose of
soothing syrup before saying it. Still it may
be best, as David thought, to call spade
spade. But David nor Nordau never thought OF
being an enemy of humanity and no truth
teller should ever be so considered. l mean
the kind of truth-teller that truthfullY tells
society all about its lying and hypocritical
manners, methods and customs, not to have
them banished, but to confine all that sort OF
thing within the bounds of conventional lying
and hypocrisy. There is great difference be-
tween the conventional lie and the lie OF the
degenerate; but society harbors degenerates,
as it has to, still it can guard itself against
them, but not by ways and means such as
blunt truth at all times and under all elrcum-
stances. Lies and hypocrisy are better than
truth and sincerity sometimes.
Perhaps it is trife paradoxical TO say that
the employment OF the methods of the hypo-
critic to protect ones self against what might
be the consequence of his own speech or act is
not only right, but is commanded by the law
OF selfpreservation; but it is true, anyway
That is very old aphorism which says
Hypocrisy is the homage that vice pays to
virtue" AS matter of fact in society hy-
pocrisy and lying are simply the conforming
ynVtfr CfA
full, but which have to be observed to main
tain harmony. For the moment one lives ana
acts lie, but is not the thread upon which
the beads (customs) of society are strung
made OF lies, woven and interviewer? Why,
oil course II is. On the other hand, cynicism
should be kept bound by chains of considera-
ton lot the peace of others. Unrestralned
cyniclsm sets brother against brother and
friend against friend. In fact the unbridled
cynic rather delights to array every person
against every other person in fierce onslaught
upon character and all else; but the true
eynic never Ensembles, never lies.
do not mean that there could be conditions
or environment that would justify one to
''smile, and smile, and be villain" but l do
mean that there are times when lie is better
than the truth; but this every one admits by
action and speech. 1t is hypocrisy OF speech,
but not of the heart when one woman tells
another that she admires her new gown or
bonnet very much, when she herself would
not be caught wearing either. But is IL not
better to be hypocritical than to wound the
feelings of your friend, especially il she thinks
her dressmaker and her milliner have reached
the summit OF art in her gown and bonnet? |:
surely is. OF course it is hypocrisy to extend a
hearty greeting to caller when she comes at
the most inopportune time possible, but good
breeding quickly suggests that the caller must
not know how her call disturbs and so, out
wardly, thegreeting is not only warm, but it is
made to give the impression to the caller that
she has done exactly the right thing
at exactly the right time; but all the
same lie is being acted. But the hostess
is entirely justified, for had she acted the I'M
vanished truth her caller would have been
deeply wounded. The hypocrisy OF the host
est made her caller happy. Good, and no
harm at all, came of the deception; therefore
did she SIN when she acted lie? Certainly