KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



289 



TRUTH AND FALSEHOOD. 



It is not in the power 

 Of Painting or of Sculpture to express 

 Aught so divine as the fair form of Truth. 



Cumberland. 



Falsehood puts on the face of simple Truth ; 

 And masks i' th' habit of plain honesty, 

 When s;ie in heart intends most villany ! 



Sackvtlle. 



S THIS WORLD OF OURS IS BRIM- 

 FUL of deception, and as 

 people live by an assumption 

 of that which in reality they 

 are not, let us string together 

 a few fugitive truisms. Now, 

 if ever, is there "time" for 

 us to reflect. Let us, then, 

 when we walk abroad under the sweet canopy 

 of Heaven, through the fields and the woods, 

 examine ourselves. A little self-examination 

 may do us all good. 



It is hardly needful for us to premise that 

 we are not actuated by any ill-feeling. 

 Quite the contrary. As a philanthropist, 

 we want to become useful. This is what we 

 live for ; and the grand end, we imagine, for 

 which we were born. Pilate once asked — 

 u What is Truth ?" Let us, too, inquire 

 into the same momentous matter. 



Truth is the basis of practical goodness. 

 Without it, all (so-called) virtues are mere 

 representations, wanting the reality. Having 

 no foundation, they quickly prove their 

 evanescent nature, and disappear as " the 

 morning dew." 



"Whatever brilliant abilities we may possess, 

 if the dark spot of falsehood exist in our 

 hearts, it defaces their splendor and destroys 

 their efficacy. If Truth be not our guiding 

 spirit, Ave shall stumble upon " the dark 

 mountains." The clouds of Error Avill 

 surround us, and Ave shall Avander in a laby- 

 rinth — the intricacy of which will increase 

 as we proceed in it. No art can unravel the 

 Aveb that Falsehood weaves. It is more 

 tangled than the knot of the Phrygian king. 

 Falsehood is ever fearful, and shrinks 

 beneath the steadfast, piercing eye of Truth. 

 It is ever restless — racking the invention to 

 form some fresh subterfuge to escape detec- 

 tion. Its atmosphere is darkness and mys- 

 tery. It lures but to betray, and leads its 

 followers into the depths of misery. 



Truth is the spirit of light and beauty, 

 and seeks no disguise. Its noble features 

 are always unveiled, and shed a radiance 

 upon every object within their influence. 

 It is robed in spotless white; and, conscious 

 of its purity, it is fearless and undaunted. It 

 never fails its votaries, but conducts them 

 through evil report and good report, without 

 spot or blemish. It breathes of Heaven and 

 happiness, and is ever in harmony with the 

 Great Centre. 



The consciousness of Truth nerves the 



timid, and imparts dignity and firmness to 

 their actions. It is an internal principle of 

 honor, which renders the possessor superior 

 to fear. It is always consistent with itself, 

 and needs no ally. Its influence will remain 

 Avhen the lustre of all that once sparkled and 

 dazzled has passed aAvay. 



Deceit and chicanery are mean and con- 

 temptible. The double-minded are " un- 

 stable in all their ways," and generally fail 

 in attaining their wishes ; whilst those who 

 cultiA-ate singleness of heart and aim, Avith 

 sincerity of feeling and purpose, have energy 

 for an "attribute, and success a frequent 

 reward. 



There is no pleasure comparable to the 

 standing upon the vantage-ground of Truth 

 — a hill not to be commanded, and where 

 the air is always clear and serene. Cer- 

 tainly it is Heaven upon earth to have the 

 mind moving in charity, resting in Pro- 

 vidence, and turning upon the poles of 

 Truth. 



The Athenians Avere remarkable for their 

 reverence of Truth. Euripides introduced a 

 person in a play avIio, on reference being 

 made to an oath he had taken, said, " I 

 swore with my mouth, but not with my 

 heart." The perfidy of this sentiment highly 

 incensed the audience ; and induced Socrates, 

 who Avas the bosom friend of the great 

 tragic poet, to quit the theatre. Euripides 

 was publicly accused, and tried as one guilty 

 of breaking the most sacred bond of society. 



Montaigne says — "If a man lieth, he is 

 brave towards God, and a coward towards 

 men ; for a lie faces God, and shrinks from 

 man." How forcible is this remark ! 



There is nothing more beautiful than a 

 character in which there is no guile. Many 

 who would be shocked at an actual breach 

 of truth, are yet much wanting in sincerity 

 of manner or conversation. This is a species 

 of conventional deceit which cannot be too 

 strictly guarded against. 



Unswerving truth should be the guide of 

 youth. It is not sufficient to speak the 

 truth, but our whole conduct to them should 

 be sincere, upright, and without artifice. 

 Children very easily discern between truth 

 and deceit ; and if once tliey detect the latter 

 in those to whose charge they are committed. 

 confidence is for ever banished ; and on the 

 first opportunity, the same baneful duplicity 

 which they have observed in others Avill be 

 j practised by them. Childhood catches and 

 reflects everything around it. An untruth told 

 by one to whom it is accustomed to look 

 with deference, may act upon the young 

 heart like a careless spray of Avater throAvn 

 on polished steel, staining with rust which 

 no after efforts can efface. 



Finally, Truth is the basis of Love. Where 

 we cannot trust, we cannot love. Wherev cr 



Vol. V.~ 19. 



