Lies.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 19, 12 May 1909, Page 36

Lies.

With very few exceptions all assertions may be divided into two classes—lies and untruths. Lies are those assertions which the person making them knows to be not so, and untruths are those assertions which the person making them does not know to be so. Lies help to smooth over the rough places of life. Indeed, if it were not for lies, life would be almost unbearable. It would be unsociable, to say the least. If we had to confine ourselves strictly to the truth, conversation would be limited to such platitudes as “two and two are four,” “the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides,” “the earth is round,” “the sun is on time to-day,” and the like. Whereas truth is limited, minutely and painfully exclusive, one has not to be at all particular about lies. They may take any form and disport in any garb.

A lie never has to be verified. Nevertheless, it is just as well to bear in mind that the art of lying requires a certain degree of consistency, for lies well told and rigorously insisted upon have been known to pass current as truth for centuries, often to the annoyance ami headlessness of those who tried to set things right. To lie is human, to tell truth impossible. Styles in Lies. White lies are still worn. They have been largely seen at afternoon teas and bridge clubs. There is a greater variety of matrimonial lies than ever. They come in all colours, ranging from the dark brown to the long green. Some of the most popular are seen about two in the morning in the front hall. While there are some new effects, as a general rule, the men stick to the same old styles, varying them to suit their individual requirements. Some of the most popular phrases

accompanying lies are “Honour bright,” “You can search me!” “Why, I never thought of such a thing!” “You mustbe mistaken. I was at home in bed at the time,” “So sorry to have missed you,’* “I have had a perfectly corking time,” “How young you have grown,” “I would dearly love to, but I have another engagement,” “Would like to accommodate you, old man, but my bank account is already overdrawn,” “What a

perfectly dear little baby,” “I shall be all broken up if you don’t come. We simply can’t get along without you,” “And to think I should have won the first prize; and oh! it is just exactly what I wanted!” “Our directors’ meeting will probably last until midnight, darling; but don’t worry or sit up for me.” Barefaced lies have a certain vogue among a select few.