The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-07
TRUTH SCARCE AMONG WOMEN.
The Veracity of the Sex Simply n
Joke to the WOman's League.

That an open confession is good for the
soul is evidently believed by members of
the Professional Woman's League. They adj
mltted 81 their meeting, last evening. that
nine-tenths of the world are liars. The
beauty of this admission was that they
diont exempt themselves. One woman went
so Tar as TO say. I'VE are all liars" but she
was rebukei for her enthusiasm and sat
down considerably ere stfallen.
The others said they didn't believe in car
rying things too far. There was limit to
everything, and nine liars out of ten among
their membership was sufficiently credit
able showing. There might be more, but ii
wasn't wise to boast about it. The discus
sion on the liars was brought out by the re-
cent discredited report that a city magis-
trate had announced that nine-tenths of the
women are liars.
1t might have been expected that the Pro-
fessional Woman's League would have TAX
en- different stand-that they would have
gone after that magistrates scalp with
great vigor 1t was fully believed that some
of the veterans of the league would read an
essay on city magistrates that would tear
things loose.
Mrs. Mary Bancker made the shameful
confession for her erring sisters She first
objected to the magistrates statement that
nine-tenths of the women are liars. She pro-
tested against sex discrimination.
Not that women lie less" she said "but
that women lie more. If he had said nine
tenths of the world 1 might have agreed
with him. but when he arraigns nine -tenths
OF the women at his bar of injustice an q
brands them greater transgresso, S
against truth than men. it is too much
One need not be q malicious liar to be a
mar, and II is a most unfortunate state of
business and society that makes lying nee
essary"
THE man woman" she went on 'swbo
is most successful and tactful socially and
In business must be, If not an actual liar.
at least perverter of truth-a truly femi-
nine differentiation
What would be the use Of diplomats If
truth were all?" she asked.
,mysei1 never knew woman who would
not lie on some occasion"
I've known women who told the truth -
sprltedly declared Mrs. Sara Palmer and
then. as if ashamed of this one hedged and
Sald, But I'm not brave enough to do So
Ihey didn't know whether to believe her
nrSt statement or not after this
Truth seemed to have gone on a tourney
leaving no friends behind. There were
plenty TO extol the lie. but none to defend
the truth. Finally. things looked so bad that
mrs. w. q. Jones spoke up and said .''rrut h
is always better, but one must tell lie
now and then to shield some one else
Then up spoke Aunt Louisa EIdridge.
Who like HOratio of old, was willing ia
stand by and defend the truth against the
assaulting hosts '
White lies are all right" she said. "but
truth is better every time than a downright
pig lie That kind always gets found ont
And ii doesn't pay
other members seemed TO regret that they
mad been so frank in their admissions after
TINS, and some tried to hedge and explain
but II was generally believed that ali had
spoken the truth for that once ANYWAY