Norwich bulletin., 1913-11-15
written Specially For The Bulletin)

How much are we justified In be-
ing literally truthful. Many years ago
| was told that a, lie Is an untruth
told with the intention Of deceiving.
Then all the sin lies in the intention.
Why is not that the correct case? We
make the intention the reason for the
verdict favorable or otherwise, in
other crimes. They are classed among
accidents when the intention is proven
to be innocent. Why then should the
pleasant word and fiattering tongue
be counted insincere? At the moment
of utterance they are often meant to
give pleasure to the nearer.
Once lady said to me 81 have
learned to be deceitful as the years
have gone on. There is no other way
Of getting along with some people
Il could not convince her that it
was not deceit. but good manners and
courtesy. Why shouldn't we say to
a caller, 81 am so glad you came" even
If we do grudge the time which we
had planned for something else? The
work can wait till another time and
we are the better for the call
How lovely your gown u.s." gives
pleasure to the wearer. We are not
obliged from desire of truthfulness to
add, 1t is horribly unbecoming to you
however"
What a change you have made in
the looks of this room" is much
more agreeable to say and hear than
why didn't you put the bed on the
other side of the window. 1t would
look better
One young girl said to another in
my hearing not long ago, You have
so many friends, | wish l could be as
popular as you are.
The reply was: Well you have tc
go out of your way a little and say
pleasant things to people to make
them like you
She had early learned the lesson OF
unselfshness in speech as we'll as in
action. l could have told the first
speaker that from childhood she had
been self-centered, and always ex-
pecting favors, but seldom doing them
to others The only child in a grouI
of admiring relatives. she had beer
trained to receive but not to give il
return.
Her friend was the oldest one of sew
eral children, and had been brought
up to think of others rather than her
self.
1t takes so little to give pleasure. A
pleastnat word adds SO much to tn,
value of a gift. This / realized whe1
q single blossom, a beautiful white
chrysanthemum, was brought to M
with accompaniment of the cheering
word. The blossom was an entir,
bouquet Of itself, and in it's tall vas,
has been a. constant pleasure to m'
every day since. while the messag
that came with it still fingers in m!
mind and will continue to cheer M
| after the bloom has faded.
| Now that the dreary November day
| are with us, flowers become a rarity
and are all the more priced. So by tn
recluse the pleasant word and kindl.
| thought are rated more highly thai
| by those less secluded Such thing
! are like the foliage on the trees. whicl
make the view more attractive /
| they do conceal much which woul
otherwise be seen. I like my neigh
borhood surroundings, but new tn
| leaves have fallen some things ar
revealed which / do not admire.
Animals, as well as people, often
| times dissemble. saying what they d
not mean in order to serve some pur
J pose of their own. Sometimes 70
i the sake of securing their prey. ami
mails pretend inactivity or friendIinesf
! Sometimes to free themselves from
danger, they do the same. Often t