Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-21

les. But then, he added, as an after
thought, Not any more SO than men,
His idea seemed to be that all people
are untruthful in matters that they
consider mot any of the business" of
others. Also. he thought folks lie to be
agreeable and to spare the feelings of
their friends.
A WOMAN when asked if all women
{ "A are liars responded more in detail
II believe they are more apt to pre-.
varicate and be deceitful than men, but
there's a reason. You know our herit-
age, our former slavery, our absolute
dependence on men for every bite we
ate and every garment we wore, not
to speak of the social pleasures. Now
every one realizes that no one sub
servient to another can be truthful.
Don't tell your pa said the fash
toned woman to her children. admonish-
ing them to lie-thus admitting that she
was OH a par with them in being de-
pendent and obliged to scheme to get
favors. Things have changed a great
deal in the last few years. and thou
sends of women have their own bank
accounts, but old habits cling, and as
q sex probably we are more apt than
are men to take round about methods
and TO deceive and cajole and not to
bluntly demand
There is no denying all this. The
harem favorite gets many favors and
10 piled with jewels and sweetmeats,
but she dare not be truthful If the
truth is uncomplimentary to her lord.
Can you imagine favoritc remarking:
s'You are fat, greasy Turk, and l
and lie and fatter. She even may lie
about the other wives. disparnging them.
because the competition is so keen and
che must live.
X 0F COURSE. men lie often, especi-
~ ally to their wives. \ remarkably
fine and honorable husband said to me
recently: 1T Is absolutely necessary
for q man to lie to his wife OCCASION
ally" When l argued that truly
honorable. sensible pair should be so
frank and grant each other so much
personal liberty that deception is un-
necessary, he scoffed: THAT is all right
81 all wives were big and liberal, but
40 long as they are of an opinion that
they own you, body and soul, and have
such sense Of possessorship that they
question your every movement, some-
times you fb bit just to keep the
peace"
n Apart from lying to wives. men
probably have little more upright
sense Of truth and obligation than the
vast mass of women, who greatly value
amiability and refinement because they
are taught to do so, but do not always
realize the Importance of strict integ-
elty and business honor.
We have spoken of the habits of many
( wives whose husbands are wealthy and
permit them to run up enormous bills
lor clothes, yet never give them dol
Z lar for spending money, OF fixing UP
false accounts and getting cash rebates
!, from dressmakers. Such cheating ne
ce0sitates all manner of lies, but the
whole matter is due to the cOntemptu
Ous attitude of the husband, who II
willing to pay tradesmen, but assumes
that it is dangerous to allow
woman to control any cash at all. The
whole system is pernictous.
OF course. when we genera!ize We
nssan all sorts Of women-the silly
! nappers, the cOwardly and dependent
those who lie to gain better chances fol-
their children and those who secretly
despise men. Outside Of these are mil
Hens of fine, upright modern women
who maintain high standards Of truth
and would rather die than lie and
( cringe and fawn.