The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-07
Verncity of the Sexes.

Some time ago Prof. Lombroso made the
blunt announcement that, as a result of
his investigations he found that women
were addicted to lying. Previously he had
published the opinion that women were
less sensitive than men. His later state
ment, following along the lines of the for
mer one, has called forth spirited arti-
Giles, on both sides of the question. And
well it might For he says that truthful
ness is a masculine rather than femin-
inc virtue, and that women do not hest
tate TO tell lies whenever that course is
dictated by the slightest convenience. The
Literary Digest contains summaries of
some of the articles written in attack
upon and defense of Lombrosos opinion.
One of the most interesting of these arti-
Giles is that of Mime. Loukmanoff, of st.
Petersburg. She boldly admits the charge
that women are the more frequently I'M
truthful; even that they wilfully and de-
liberately lie. But she contends, with skill,
that feminine untruthfulness is of a kind
that is enjoined rather than forbidden by
the highest morality. She maintains that
without untruth in certain matters both
men and women would find life unbeara-
BILE. The Sister of Mercy, at the bedside of
an invalid doomed by disease, assures him
that the returning and benign spring will
breathe new life and energy into his vast
ed body. She knows it is untrue; that the
winters frosts will rest upon his grave.
What she says, therefore, is a lie. But is
1t lie to be condemned? Mothers, wives.
sweethearts and sisters appeal to the pride
and self-love of struggling men, who are
almost discouraged by reverses, by prais-
ing their ability, perseverance and cour-
age. They shield lovers. husbands. sons
and brothers in times of trouble. 1t is Of
ten necessary to tell falsehoods to do these
things Is II not better that they should
deviate from the straight path of truth.
and thus minimize disagreeable conse-
quences, or should they stick to the bold
and cruel truth forever? For the truth is
often extremely cruel, and to stick to II
always would undoubtedly be attended Of
ten by disastrous consequences. mot to
lie" says Nine. Loukmanoff, is often the
sign of callousness and Indifference The
person who never lies is the person who
does not hold any one dear, who does not
love. who does not realize how painful II
is, and how needlessly cruel to always tell
the truth" Children lie because they lack
Imagination and sympathy; women lie to
conceal unpleasant reality.
II is a question If Nine Loukmanoffs
conclusions can be fully accepted.
Is the sentimental lie excusabIa,
Can there be such thing as
a noble" lie? The belief of the
Christian religion Is that all lying is wick
ed and injurious, and therefore to be shun-
ned. 1t is rather startling charge for
man TO make that women are more I'M
truthful than men. and most extraordi-
nary concession for woman TO make
that the man is correct Whether they are
correct or not may be an open question.
But there is no question that both sexes
too often avoid the truth There is vast
room for improvement in each sex.
Mrs. Belva Lockwood is disgusted with
politics. Before she sailed for London the
other day she said: What use is a wo-
man In politics. anyway? Really. there
never was woman in poll
tics, when you come to think
about IT," 1t has not been a great while
since Mrs. Lockwood thought she was
in politics to a considerable extent, when