The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-20
A VANISHING VIRTUE.

A VANISHING VIRTUE.
About this time OF year good many
citizens are ready to amend the words Of
the psalmist and say in their haste, "All
men are liars-and some women" For 1t Is
at this time of year that the citizen and
his wife are likely to have dealings with
many persons whose services they re-
quire in the furnishing and renovating of
their homes and the replenishins of their
wardrobes. And the more persons they
deal with that many more will they dis
cover who have no truth In them. Madame
engages a woman to clean house and a
man to whitewash the cellar. They agree
to come early on Monday. but they do not
come, though domestic business is at a
standstill awaiting them Presently 1t is
remembered that Monday Is also circus
day. and the cleaner and the whitewasher
being of the happy-go-lucky race which
goes to circuses whether dinner afterward
is sure or not, their absence is accounted
for. But race does not account for fail
ures to keep promises, the weakness is
paper-hangers are engaged for Wednesday;
they arrive the following Tuesday. Paint
ers promise to begin work on the fifteenth
of the month; they come on the twenty
fifth, and the employer may consider him
self fortunate that he is not required to
await their pleasure longer. The plumber is
summoned in haste to do some necessary
work and says he will be there In half an
hour. He comes the third day. being noti-
fed half dozen times I'm the interval. Pre-
liminary to the coming Of guests Madame
orders new furniture, the same to be de-
livered promptly. Frantic telephoning sue
ceeds in bringing Il to the house after the
guests have arrived. Madame also pre-
pares for a seamstress who has promised
her a certain week. The seamstress delays
to do two days work for another patron.
sending no word and remarking sweetly
when she finally comes, Mrs. Blank was
in such a hurry, and I KNEW you wouldn't
care" The tailor who is making Madames
spring gown sends it home week later
than the time agreed.
There is in mincing words: they
all lie, though probably they would not
like the harsh term. Why they lie. from the
care-free irresponsible son of Africa to the
stafd and even godly merchant who looks
you &ankly in the eye and promises that
your work shall be done by a certain date
when he knows in his heart'that 1t will not.
is impossible to say. Perhaps they fear that
Il you were sure Of delay you would take
a good excuse, and does 1t work profit to
the prevaricator I'm the long run? Would not
the average man and woman in need Of
the services of their fellow-creatures pre-
fer to be told the exact truth, even though
it worked their Inconvenience rather than
to have promises of promptitude which
experience has told them are not trust
worthy? At all events, 1t would save great
wear and tear of nerves and temper and
much loss of time If those who want work
done could depend upon the word of those
who agree to do IT. Life would really be
worth living under such joyous circum-
stances.
That truthfulness is not impossible under
such circumstances is proved by an occa-
sional though rare example, for the psalm
list was really too sweeping when he said
'all." In Indianapolis is. for instance. a
acknowledgements properly a cobbler, per-
haps-who regardless Of the traditional
reputation Of members Of his craft, never
disappoints his patrons. When he promises
to mend your shoe by the next day. you
can call for 1t certain that 1t will be ready;
If he cannot touch it for week or two
weeks he will tell you so. This cobbler's
reputation for trustworthiness has gone
far and wide. and is of great profit to him.
Because of it he has much business and
has waxed prosperous. Why cannot the
whitewashers and the cleaners, the paper
hangers. the painters. the carpenters, the
tailors. the dressmakers and all the rest
not see the wisdom of his course and go
and do likewise? Why, also, is truth be-
coming vanishing virtue? Who can an
swer?