Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-15
social DfPLICITY.
People Who Say oRe Thing in One
Place and Another Elsewhere.


People Who Say eHc Thing in One
Place and Another Elsewhere.
From the Boston Transcript.
The Listener was in a group of people
the other day where the conversation
turned to the spread of the practice of re-
porting oneself not in when one is in, and
the question was raised whether a truthful
and conscientious person could do this.
The prevalent opinion was that while the
practice might be carried on with good
conscience, probably it couldn't be carried
on truthfu)ly. In society some lies can be
told with a pretty good conscience, simply
because they are necessary. Some one said
that he could not resort to the practice be-
cause 1t was French, and the French were
all such liars" From the shelves some one
turned up an old book, and somewha irrel-
evantly read this story, told by Coleridge
of Nine de Stael:
He (Coleridge) was one day sitting tete-
a-tete with Nine. de Stael in London when
her man-servant entered the room and
asked her If she would receive Lady Davey.
She raised her eyebrows and shrugged her
shoulders, and appeared to shudder with
nausea. as she turned to him and said
All, ma fol! Oh mon cher ami! ayez pitie
de moi! Mais quot faire? Cette viiaine
femme! Comme je la deteste! Ellie est
vraiment insupportable." and then on her
entry. Nine. de Stael flung her arms around
her. kissed her on both cheeks pressed her
to her bosom, and told her that she was
more than enchanted to behold her
So much for French feminine social du-
plicity. But 1t was urged IN the French wo-
mans behalf that since she was bound to
receive the insupportahie Lloy Davey any
way, 1t did re hal III to embrace her; on the
contrary. It mide Lady avey happy, and
the happiness that was thus induced in the
object Of he, dislike might well make her
more attractive, which might reduce Nine
de Staeps contempt and make Lady Davey
more supportabie next time. The French
woman having thus been in a degree re-
hablitated, the person who had read the
story said there was another in the book,
which went to show that the French were
not the only liars in the world. The story
was also one told by Coleridge, and it re-
lated that he, with Wordsworth and Dora,
was travelling on the continent, and when
in HARLEM they were asked by a waiter at
the inn if they wished to go with party
and hear the celebrated ol gan played.
"Oh,' said Wordsworth, we meant to
hear the organ; but why, Coleridge should
we go with strangers" 1t was explained
that the organist would not play for less
than twelve guilders, and that it was Gus
tomary for people to go in parties and
share the expense between them. "Ah,
then, l think l will not CO." said Words
worth; Il am tired. Then you and l will
go together, Dora" answered Coleridge
OF they went, arm in arm, leaving Words
worth behind them, reclining on a couch
They had not been long in the church of
Bavon, listening to the different stops
which the organist was trying To display
to the greatest advantage. before Coleridse
was made sensible of the unwelcome intru-
sion of cold current Of air throughout the
building. He turned MS head to see the
ca use, and to his amusement. deserted his
gentle friend noiselessly closing the door
and furtively making his way behind one
of the pillars, from which he could hear
without being sean, and thus escape pay
ment Before the organist had concluded
his labors WordsNortp had quietly with
drawn. On the return of his friend and
daughter, he asked them how they had en-
joyed their visit to ST. Bavon, but said
nothing of his own!' u,
This left the hoRors at least easy between
the two nations, if the balance of odium
were not. indeed, on the side of the great
Englishman.