COMBE AND THE LIARS.
While George Combe was preparing his work on Moral Philosopy, be lost no opportunity to study humau nature in its manifold phases. It is related of him that on one occasion he had gathered three notorious liars into company for the purpose of seeing how they would take it, and what answer they would give if he should request them to tell, each a lie for his benefit. He told them frankly fchafc he was writing a work on human nature, and the springs of human action, and he was curious to see how big a lie a man could tell when he tried. " Now look you," said he, " to the man of you who shall tell me the greatest, the most bare-faced lie, I will give a half-crown." Said the first man : "Yer honor—l cant't do it. I never told a lie in my life." Said the second—" Bless your soul, sir! I don't know no more how to tell a lie than a nursin' infant!" While the third man capped the climax thus: " Well—sein' as how't my two companions have told yer honor only the solemn truth, I don't see as I've got anything to do, only to hold my tongue.,' Combe awarded the prize to the last speaker.
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Bibliographic details
Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3005, 11 February 1881, Page 4
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215COMBE AND THE LIARS. Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3005, 11 February 1881, Page 4
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