New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-05
As TO WHO rs A LIAR.
IN A GENERAL WAY EVERYBODY 49, boi
you MUST NOT SAY THAT ANYBODY
IN PARTICULAR 10.

The word liars" dropped like spark into the
infamma bic material OF the Professional Woman's
League at it's last meeting and II was IKE match
falling into barrel OF frecrackers. Men usually
assume that have right to be liars u they
want to- and do not expect them to object much
to being called so. but some women nave a nouoh
that the term Is uncomplimentary man cares
more for his own reputation In this respect than
for that Of mankind I'm general woman cares
more for the reputation of womankind Tor tru'h-
fuIness than for her Say TO a man. All men
are liars" and he does not think the subject worth
talking about. Say to him. You are iiar' anu
he thinks that the time for talk has passed and the
time for action has arrived. on the contrary
almost any honest will tell you that she Is
herself lar but say to her. "All women are mars
and she at gets angry. Probably the distinc-
Ton this She is not unwilling to have II known
that lying is with her personal trait. but she re-
sents the implication tnat she IL woman anu
therefore necessarily a liar.
There is obviously enough dynamic force IN these
propositions even after all the years that nave
passed since The Two Orphans" dropped tire same
bombshe to rend the Professional woman
League from pinnacle to foundation But the fro-
fessional Womans League is most Itself when II IL
most rent asunder and II s not afraid of any such
questions. So II discussed them, and II 1t dd not
get any conclusion It at least got several state
ments on the subject, none OF them new and none
final. but all emphatic. Here are some OF the sage
decisions reached not necessarily by more than one
person each:
Men average up as many liars to the billion as
women do.
A liar need not be n malicious liar in order to be
n liar.
II is unfortunate that the state OF business makes
lying necessary as It unquestionaby does
1t is unfortunate that the state OF society makes
lying necessary, az 1t unquestionably does
A lie is Unsuitable only when 1t rescues one on
the brink Of destruction. wide The Two Or
phans')
To he absolutely truthful one should never lie
Gf this is not an inspiration, what do you call an
nsprationO
There are some women and even men who never
lie This was the declaration OF member VINO
said that she was something of a liar herself)
little lie may be excusabe. but not big, de-
uberate lie because II Is to be found out and
doesn't pny (This is surely pure ethics run mad.(
The percentage of liars In the human race, male
and female. is about ninety. (This Is an average
one Of the members cited Mark Twain's maxim
When in doubt tell the truth put noooay t tTt
is the most valuable thing we have: let us econ9-
mize It," This is here quoted from memory, and Is
subject to slight error, but 81 is correct In sub
stance 1t is sufficient to neutralize Mark Twain as
authority. , . =,
true philosophers is the scarcity Of the light which
It throws on any subject at all. It IS not ques.
excited over. That is LETT to the Professional
Woman's League once there was ciersym m an
Who vent around deHerng ieGtre o bs
IAN Men Are Liars. Admit one" This ticket was
REGARDED offensive and thai aSt ns M 10 oe sm
are liars and everybody Will agree with you. and
no harm is done. but YOU must not be- be-, more ex,
liar. and you must not even say, All women are
liars" II you want to say, II am liar" that Is
hear It.