The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-09
AS TO WHO Is A LIAR,
In a General Way Everybody Is, But
You Must Not Say That Anybody
in Particular Is
From the New York Trir

From the New York Tribune.
The word liars" dropped like a spark
into the inhammable material of the Pro-
fessional Woman's League at its last
meeting, and it was like match falling
into barrel of f1recrackers. Men usually
assume that women have a right to be
liars if they want to, and do not expect
them to object much to being called So
but some women have a notion that the
term is uncomplimentary. A man cares
more for his reputation in this respect
than for that Of mankind In general A
woman cares more for the reputation of
womankind for truthfulness than for her
own Say to a man, "All men are liars"
and he does not think the subject worth
talking about. Say to him, you are
liar" and he thinks that the time for
talk has passed and the time for action
has arrived. On the contrary, almost any
honest woman will tell you that she is
herself a liar, but say to her, "All women
are liars" and she at once gets angry
Probably the distinction is this: She is
not unwilling to have it known that lying
is with her a personal trait, but she re-
sents the implication that she is a wo-
man and therefore necessarily a liar.
There is obviously enough dynamic force
in these propositions, even after all the
years that have passed since THE Two
Orphans" dropped the same bombshell, to
rend the Professional Woman's League
from pinnacle to fountain. But the Pro-
fessional Womans League is most itself
when it is most rent asunder, and It is
not afraid of any such questions. So it
discussed them, and If At did 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 malicious liar In
order to be- a liar.
1t is unfortunate that the state Of bust
ness makes lying necessary, as it I'M
questionably does.
1t is unfortunate that the state of So
ciety makes lying necessary, as 1t I'M
questionably does.
A lie is justifiable only when it rescues
one on the brink of destruction. wide
The Two Orphans.D
To be absolutely truthful, one should
never lie Of this is not an inspiration,
what do you call an inspirationO
There are some women and even men
who never lie. (This was the declaration
thing of a liar herself)
A little lie may be excusable, but not
big, deliberate lie, because il is sure to
be found out and doesn't pay (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 of opinions express
ed)
One Of the members cited Mark Twain's
maxim when in doubt tell the truth
but nobody thought to cite another of
Mark Twains maxims, Truth is the
most valuable thing we have; let us econ
omize it," This is here quoted from MEM
ory, and is subject to slight error. but IL
is correct in substance. 1t is sufficient Ia
neutralize Mark Twain as an authority.
The noticeable thing about this discus
sion TO all true philosophers is the scar
city of the light which it throws on any
subject at all 1t is not a question thar
a high school debating society would get
excited over. That is left to the Profes.
sional Woman's League. Once there vyas
a clergyman who went around DELIVERING
a lecture entitled Gan Men Are Tiars :
and he had printed on his tickets uAl
Men are Liars. Admit one" This Ticket
was regarded as offensive, and thar fact
seems to sum up the whole matter Va,
may say that all people are liars ana a,,-
erybody will agree with you, and no harm,
Is done, but you must not be more a,,
plict than that. You must not saw. "Yo,
are a liar and you must NOT evnr 80
IAN women are liars" If you want -
say. Il am liar" that is your Own of1
fair and nobody will be surprised TO hear
il. 0'
IT, II. Price, the New York mlllionaira
Is, facially, the exact double of Congress