The evening times., 1899-07-01
attacking one who had never done him any
harm. The blame for this lamentable
affair rests entirely with the mother.
Feminine MenGacitx.

Feminine MenGacity.
The remark of a magistrate in New
York city, to the effect that most women
are liars, seems to be creating considera-
bic disturbance. The matter is one OF
| those on which every man, woman. and
child in the country can express soGe
opinion. In one of the papers which print
ed letters from correspondents on the sub
ject there was a pointed though pyobab y
unintent:onal comment on the statement.
In one column appeared an emphatic cor
roboration of the magistrates assertions.
and in the next pitiful letter from poor
woman, begging for advice in her marrie1
life. She said that she had b3en married
twelve years, and that her husband low
assured her that he had tIickei her into
it and the ceremony was not legal. 1t
looks as if in that case there was some
lying done, but not by the woman.
The magistrates opinion is not rev
one. There are thousands of proverbs to
the same effect. in all languages and by
men of all ages From the beginning Of
the world, the man who has discovered
that clever and INSCRIPTIONS woman has
been lying to him. has been smitten with
mighty disgust for the whole Sex. and if
he is clever enough, he has made q pro-
verb on the subject. The man who knows
that his wife's good faith is Unquestion-
able, her nature as pure and true as the
light of the stars, does not bother h.mse
to make proverbs. He is too busy in ether
ways.
There is another thing which contributes
TO produce a general idea that women are
more untruthful than men, and that is
that when they do not tell the truth their
vice takes a peculiar form. ia man Les
he lies for a purpose. He may use the
most crooked methods in politics or in
business and be absolutely truthful in his
private life. woman also lies for a pur
pose, but not the same purpoze. She may
be untruthful to secure some end partic-
ularly dear to her heart, when she would
not lie about a business matter. She may
lie from fear-snd man is seldom tempt
ed 10 do this, at any rate in his personal
affairs. Thus, her untruthfulness being in
est, the man comes in direct contact with
it. and it impresses him. The records
show that where women have been cash
iers or confidential clerks, or entrusted
with large sums OF money in business af-
fairs, they have rarely proved unfaithful to
their trust. and many employers are said
to prefer women as cashiers on account of
their superior honesty.
A woman sometimes lies to avoid telling
some secret-and, it may be added, 50 does
a man. Women are often interrogated
concerning some personal affair which is
no ones business but their own. The
question is sometimes put in such "a way
that 10 refuse to answer is to give infor-
nation, or at least a clew. to the question
er. In that case, what is to be done? The
woman cannot resent such a query in the
way that a man would. for her very re
sentiment would be taken as a betrayal
So, unless she is clever enough TO evade
the questioner, she sometimes tells a direct
or implied untruth Again in hundreds
Of instances in every day life the woman
is appealed to for favorable comment on
some person or thing. If she gives her
honest opinion she is likely to be con-
demned, both by her own sex and by men
as a tactless person. II she does not, she
is not telling the truth This atmosphere
Of petty evasion is about her from child
hood. Perhaps men will never like a
woman who is straightforward honest.
absolutely truthful and reliable. quite as
well as the dainty and insinuating fate er
who tells the truth only when il suits her
own ends. but until they do. ii is to be
feared that they will get their fingers
burnt in the fire Of deception. and continue
to make cynical and disappointed proverbs
about the frailty of women. The man
who is ruggedly truthful. even if unfat-
teIing, is likely TO find admirers of both
sexes. and perhaps that is one reason why
men are as veracious as they are
And now comes Cen Harrison Cra, Oti,