DECEPTIVE TRUTH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VI, Issue 25, 21 June 1890, Page 7

DECEPTIVE TRUTH.

There are circumstances under which the most truthful .and creditable statements may be both misleading and unwelcome. During a certain voyage of a Down-East vessel, the mate, who usually kept the log, became intoxicated one day, and was unable to attend to his duty. As the man very rarely committed the offence, the captain excused him, .and attended to the log himself, concluding with this : ‘ The mate has been drunk all day.’ Next day the mate was on deck, and resumed his duties. Looking at the log, he discovered the entry the captain had made, and ventured to remonstrate with his superior. ‘ What was the need, sir,’ he asked, ‘ of putting that down on the log ?’ ‘ Wasn’t it true ?’ asked the captain. ‘ Yes, sir, but it doesn’t seem necessary to enter it on the log.’ • ’Well,’ said the captain, ‘ since it was true, it had better stand ; it had better stand. ’ The next day the captain had occasion to look at the log, .and at the end of the entry which the mate had made he found this item : ‘ The captain has been sober all day.’ The captain summoned the mate, and thundered : ‘ What did you mean by putting down that entry ? What was the need, I say ? Am I not sober every day ?’ ‘ Yes, sir, but wasn’t it true ?’ ‘ Why, of course it was true !’ ‘ Well, then, sir,’ said the mate, ‘ since it was true, I think it had better stand; it had better stand.’ The mate then took his departure hastily, dodging the marlinspike as he went.