Humbug


There is no end to the humbug in life. About half we say, and more than

half we do, is tinged with humbug. "My Dear Sir," we say, when we

address a letter to a fellow we have never seen, and if seen, perhaps

don't care a continental cent for him; dear sir! what a humbug

expression! "Good morning," (what a lie!) says one, as he meets another

one, on a stormy and nasty day, "quite a disagreeable wet day!" What's

the use
f such a humbug expression as that? If it's a disagreeable and

stormy day, every body finds it out, naturally. Full half of the people

who appear solicitous about your health, display a gratuitous amount

of humbug, for your pocket-book is more beloved than your health; and we

have often wondered why matter-of-fact people don't out with it, when

they meet, and say--"How's your pocket to-day? Sorry to hear you're out

of money!" Or, instead of soft soap, when they meet, why not discard

humbug, and say, "Sorry to see you--was blackguarding you all day!"

instead of "Glad to see you--have been thinking of you to-day!" or,

"I'm glad to see you've been elected Mayor of the city!" when in fact

they mean, "Curse you, I wish you had been defeated!" Compliments

pass, they say, when gentlemen meet, but, as there are so many

counterfeit gentry around, now-a-days, you may bet high that half the

compliments that pass are--mere bogus!



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