1907
August
Lake Umbagog
fairness and with reasonable accuracy, as to the general
truth or falsity of statements which they hear or read. Their
confidence in an author is not often misplaced nor, when
ever fully given, is it easily shaken. They will readily pardon
natural mistakes and will even treat indulgently that form
of honest exaggeration to which the over-enthusiastic are sometimes
given or that which results from the effort to strongly
emphasise points which require to be thrown into bold relief.
In the one case the overstatement is too obvious to do any
real harm, in the other too effective and too generally
sanctioned by high authority to be seriously condemned. Equally
legitimate and very pleasing to everyone are those graceful
touches inspired by the imagination with which all really
good literature abounds. But the written or spoken words
must at least be based on accurate observation, on sane
opinion, or on sincere sentiment, to be favorably
and confidently received.
"Nature Fakers" (3)