The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-27
SAYS UNCLE CAV

If YOU really wish to love the truth
for truths sake, you had better begin
by thickening your hide. The first
step toward a genuine love of truth
is learning not to finch when some
+ body looks you square in the face and
tells you the awful facts concerning
your own shortcomings.
Most truth seekers are more inter
eSted in that part of the truth which
applies to their neighbors than that
which camps on their own doorsteps.
Most of US writhe when we turn the
probe upon ourselves, but when it is
manipulated by a serious minded as
sociate we jump, double up our fists
and shrek that he is trying to take
our lives. The chances are that he
is only trying to point out that
which is threatening our m ortal exist
ence, but we love our moral diseases
as we love ourselves and We don't
care to have the surgeon dig into the
source of the disorder.
You may believe that you have a
passion for truth, but let the other
fellow put his finger upon your faults
and you'll know for sure. If you want
to hang him for a murderer you're in
the same boat with the rest of us. If
you're properly humble, duly repent
ant and thank the prOber for his pains,
you really love truth.
Usually the man who says he loves
truth has an inordinate itching in
the fingers of his good right arm.
What he really means is that he has
an aching instinct to break somebody's
head, believes his intended victim
guilty and thinks truth would make
first rate club. Telling the truth
about the other fellow is popular
style of murder, because nobody can
be sent to jail or the chair for it.
Constitutional freedom of speech has
done more than you think to decrease
the mortality rate. Few men will lay
violent hands upon their brothers
when they can take their anger out in
Internationally when they can
speak the truth with deadly eff
fectiveness. Too many of us speak the
truth as a substitute for a coarser vio-
lence of which the law takes persistent
and unpleasant cognizance.
1t is well, therefore. before you give
way to your passion for speaking the
truth, that you hunt up trusted
friend and let him tell you a few per-
fectly true things about yourself. By
the time your OK has been gored a lit
tie while in a perfectly friendly fash
ion, you'll begin to understand some
thing about the unregenerate brutality
of cold facts shouted from the house
tops. Truth will lcok more like a
club than ever. but the little end of the
club won't be so inviting. You'll begin
to have deep sympathy for the fellow
that you meant to cruelty with a few
well chosen words.
He who dispassionately insists upon
truth for truths sake must not only
not live in glass house, but he must
have the hide of a rhinoceros and the
humility of an unspoiled child. We
run afoul of hard facts many times in
every "a hours, and it is possible that
if we keep on preaching the harsh doc
trine which prescribes the truth for
every possible occasion. We'll encour-
age our neighbors to turn their mis-
siles in our direction
A better. more humane rule, is to
speak the truth only when It brings
the greatest good to the greatest num-
ber- If you adhere to this plan and
keep a close watch upon yourself It
won't be long before you appreciate
it's marvellous beauties.-(Copyrigh
1913. by the Mcclure Newspaper Syn
dicate-)