ON BEING DECEIVED.

Otago Witness, Issue 2883, 23 June 1909, Page 95

ON BEING DECEIVED.

By Constance G&xde.

I>anientation over the deceitfalness of the world is not so fashionable as in the mot© lachrymose- Yietorian era. Kevertheless, we Still meet tbe person who seems to have encountered faithlessness and deceit at every turn. In considering the reason of this a somewhat new theory is in process of promulgation. There sre certain natures, I believe, so unfortunately constituted tnat they tend to draw out tne latent deceit that rs in us all. A friend once informed me that, t&ougB: generally truthful as a lad, he was often tsmpfced to- tell untruths to bis sister. Be was fond of that relative, but somehow veracity fled when he was in her society. Mis idea was that certain peTsons unconsciously possess: a magnetism, which eom-pels others to injure them! Possibly when, the laws of psychology are better understood, w.e shall see tjur courts of justice entirely revolutionised. Tbe wroaged, nob the wrongxioer, will stand in the dock, and! the 1 man who has been defrauded will serve that sentence which. Js now mfited eat tar the de'frauder.

Seriooslyy bow-ever, there eeeme something to- be learnt from this argument. Consider,, for instance,, that large- class of persons who »ps most, in the wa-y of being misled — men and: women, who either officially ojt religiously work among- the poor. In almost every- case experience not only varies, but varies to a very considerable extent. One- woman receives- fairdealing om every hand. r and' confesses fchab she- has very seldom been misled p her colleague, as judicious- and painstaking, isdecerved by her' little following even when such deceit is sure of discovery and can work no good. In each, case the missioned will be as kindly and gentle as in> the other, yet the very peusons who- deal honourably witn. the one will continually act falsely towards her companion. It would seem almost as if they became different creatures!

Have some ohaaracters, estimable- though they may be, the unenviable power of drawing out the latent dteceitfulness in others? A striking instance of this theory seems to be shown in tite case of Hannah, than whom no woman was more honourable and self-sacrificing; ThrougJiout h.eit life, from, every side and in. every possible manner, she seems to have known, deceit tinctured wifck the basest, ingratitude. First we have her -strange love' affair ; the proposals made" to her which, were never afterwards carried, out. Thea, sre have her protegee, the- peasant, poetess Mrs Tourner, whom she. assisted and instructed, <mly to face- from, her the ridiculous accusation of dishonest-y. Who can think withjoufcr wonder as well as sorrow of that sad old age when, her servants conspired to rob and deceive ncr on hex deathbed? "What, all unfaithful—Timotby, whose relations I have fed and dotted?" "Yes, all." "And Teddy and Rebecca and .Jane, not one faithful?" "The whole are faithless." "Then I will leave it all." She was. kind and liberal, yet not one of her dependents felt that affection which would have desired to spare her a pang. Was it paradoxically because she felt too much, happiness in being kinoT that those whom, she befriended would' not add to it — nay., rather felt inclined to detract from it? The casual benefits of tne selfish are often, niore appreciated than the steady kindness of the altruistic. Perhaps the casually exercised virtues have a better influence, too.

Fanciful as tae idea may seem, it may be w.ell for those wli© have known very frequently the bitterness of deceit to face th.B fa-ct that their own. temperament maybe at least pai'tly to blame. This may not be due, as moralists would aver, to any grave fault in. their own characters ; certainly not, however the notion may j>lease lovers of poetic justice to deceit in themselves. It is not ascribable even to that want of tact of which. W© hear so much. It is something in the psychic development which, seems to invite wrongdoing. A writer once stated that while there is no type if wife-beater, there is a type of woman who will always jnanage to get thrashed, be her lord Lancelot or Bill Sykes. Perhaps there ia 'ikewise no separata type of deceiver; it is the deceived who form a class apart. It may be conceded perhaps that the noble nature is on the whole the most liable to be misled. The noble nature possesses, in fact, a certain stupidity of its own. As George Eliot points out, we are inclined to assume that while the lower character cannot understand the higher, the latter of necessity comprehends fully that which is inferior. This, however, is by no means the case. The noble nature is limited by its very nobleness, and is ruled again by pretty idealisms. '"Show absolute confidence in your servants and they will respond to your faith." So runs one dictum; but this is not the case. Many servants prefer not to be trnsted. They like better than you should be a little uncertain as to their truth, and should gradually be won over to a whole-hearted faith. " This is easily explicable. Confidence in them at the first is only confidence in human natur», and with human nature in general, servant like, they want to have very little to do. Their honesty will be more valued if it is seen to be exceptional and not typical. To assume undeviating veracity in others is not always the best way to please. ■Sometimes it arouses a curious irritation — that irritation which we note in certain worldly people equally when their irorldlinesa is too much, ignored as when it is recognised. Is this because when we are presumed to be v«iy good and veracious we are presumed, to be a little stupid, too?

•However that may be, let us face the possible truth that to be deceived is no less iniquitous than to deceive. Even if tbe above argument for this theory be too fanciful, we must 'still realise that often, the exertion of a little common sense and

prudence would prevent the trouble. A little wholesome sname is advisable for the injured as well ,as for the injurer. ' : Shame fa' him if he cheats me once; shame fa' me if he cheats me twice!"