Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-10-19
Saint Maru's Beacon
Philosophy or FalsehOod.


as to discourage the most courage
Gus. It is found that nature herself
throws many obstacles in the way
by implanting instincts and provid-
ing means for deception. Every
farmer knows how the domestic ami
mails will resort TO tricks and vari-
GUS cunningly devised schemes TO
mislead. The COW will hide her calf
in the tall grass or bushes. The
turkey hen, discarding the comf0r-
table boxes made for her, goes into
the woods TO make q nest OF leaves.
The goose carefully covers up her
eggs to prevent their discovery.
Many of the wild animals exhibit
that curious trait called 'mimicry'
by biological science, which is q pro-
vision OF nature to enable them to
throw pursuers of the scent. Some
are enabled closely 10 initiate leaves
or shrubs oreven plants and are able
to resemble stones for the same end,
which Is TO escape detection by enc
mics. The pheasant and quail pre-
tend TO be wounded and 60 limping
away on apparently broken wing
in order to lead the pursuer away
from the nest of eggs or young. The
fox has many tricks TO fool the
hounds and il is for the same pur-
pose, as well as to cool of, that the
deer plunges into the flowing stream.
The change of fur by animals in the
arctic, from dark colors in summer
to pure white in winter. so identifies
them with the surrounding snow
that they are rendered more difficult
to be seen and attacked. The chame-
Icons changes OF color so identify
the creature with the tree or log or
grass to which it clings that sharp
eyes are needed to disclose its pres
ence. This protective resemblance,
which certain animals and plants ex-
hibit to other animals and plants or
to the natural objects among which
they live is simply q form OF what
with men is called falsehood. The
latter consists not only in the sup
preston OF the truth but in the sug
gestion of the false. Lying, there
fore, is not merely an acquired vice
but a part OF the natural order. The
little child, detected by its mother
in an act of dishonesty or disobedi-
ence instinctively says, II didu t do
it," The lie, which rises spontane-
ously to its lips, is it's natural as in
deed its only method OF defense, It
is questionable whether man could
exist in the social state without those
thousands of harmless hypocricies
and complaisant insincerities which
are constantly practiced in daily in
None actually are exact
~ what they seem There is more
DR. less mask, more or less pretense,
putting on for appearance, q con-
,ealment OF motive and opinion
among the best of US. Lying is the
cohesive principle which keeps So
,iety together. A perfectly candid
person, one who blurted out on all
occasions his actual thoughts and
opinions, would be an intolerable
nuisance in the social circle. The
world is more influenced by its facts.
Half our beliefs are but chimeras of
he imagination, mere children of
ancy and delusion. Much so called
history is the product of legend and
able, a description of things that
lever happened, an affirmation of |
hings not so. What we believe, so |
ar as it influences our conduct, is |
qually potential whether based on |
ruth or falsehood.
Theabsolute truth is unattainable |
nd it is much to be doubted whether
nan, as atpresent constituted, could
'ear it il disclosed. Il would destroy
ii our illusions, shatter many of our
1ost cherished images, change many
deals into forbidding realities. |
'iewed in this light, science must
% regarded as an iconociast of high
egree. Carried out TO its cold,
'gical consequences, il must inevi.
ably destroy all that class of belief
'hich extend beyond the visible uni
erse. Science recognizes no fairy
md; 10 refuses to discuss the un-
it turns q cold glance at
he whole realm which is peopled
y our fancy with forms supernal
nd creations ethereal. 1t insists
pom logic Of inductive reasoning,
pom demonstration, upon results
lly to be announced after careful
EXPERIMENTATION. AS Santa Claus
lsappears with youth, so many of
le cherished visions must dissolve
efore the remorseless advance of
'ience. A civilization purely intel
ctual, one from which is excluded
j fictitious fancies, has long been
he dream of philosophers from whose
we may we'll shrink. We
light well spare most OF our super
itions, which at best are but per.