The Rambles of an Idler 



statement lacks the best of reasons for attempt- 

 ing authorship. 



It may be objected that, given a direct asser- 

 tion, there may be more than one view of its 

 significance; and the advocate of each view 

 will use all the power of language to defend his 

 own conclusion. How, then, it is asked, is the 

 layman to decide when the doctors disagree? 

 Our only hope lies in the honesty of the doctors ; 

 and this honesty is exercised only by the use, 

 and not the misuse, of language — ^by admitting 

 the weakness of one's own arguments, as well 

 as their strength, and not misquoting an ad- 

 versary or the assertion, itself, under discus- 

 sion. Words, with their meaning, should be the 

 debater's stock-in-trade — not words merely. 

 Ehetorical flourish, sophomorical display, and 

 lexicographic hysteria may convince for a time ; 

 but the convincement is quite likely to be that a 

 palpable lie is the plain, unvarnished truth. 

 Many a writer thinks he has gained a victory if 

 he has gained a few followers ; but, is it honor- 

 able victory when the means used was verbal 

 jugglery? 



There is no disposition to decry elegance of 

 diction. Fine raiment fits the form of Truth 



202 



