The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-04-14
PLEASANT PEOPLE.


Are Always Likable.
What boon to all his friends and ac-
quaintance a pleasant person Isl 1t
may be hard to define pleasantness,
but we lind no difficulty in recognizing
1t when we meet with IL. Pleasant peo-
pie are not always by any means the
most admirable of mankind, nor the
most interesting; for It often happens
that the qualities in man which are
worthiest OF esteem are, for lack OF
other modifying elements. the very ones
which make against his agreeableness
as companion; and person who does
not impress us as particularly pleasant
may nevertheless interest us very much
by the display of unusual mental
or moral characteristics, or from a COM
plexity of nature which seems to offer
itself as an enigma we are curious to
solve. Pleasant people may not even
be the most truly lovable, but they are
hkablc; we perhaps have no desire to
make friends OF them, in the deeper
sense OF friendship, but we are glad
when we meet them, and enjoy our
selves while in their society. The tie
thus formed, though slight, is real
one, and / believe that we should all do
well to remember, in the interest of our
closer friendships, the attractive and
cohesive force of mere pleasantness.
The highest virtues and Offices of friend
ship we are not called on to exercise
every day, and in familiar intercourse
we have not less, but rather the more,
need of making ourselves pleasant, be-
cause of the times when onr friends
will have to answer our drafts on their
patience and sympathy.
If we question what it is that goes to
constitute man or woman pleasant,
it appears to be result of both tenn
permanent and character. It is hardly
necessary to say that these arc not the
same thing, and yet they are not dis
tinguished in common thought and
speech as clearly as they might be.
Without attempting any close analysis,
we may perhaps say that temperament
is certain combination of elements
given us at BIRTH while character is an
other set of powers and dispositions,
slowly acquired and grown in us; for
the first, nature is responsible. our pa.
rents and ourselves for the second.
1t seems easiest to describe pleasant
person by negatives. although assuredly
his pleasantness affects us as most
positive quality. To begin with, such
a person must not be to much ''shut up
in his own individuality" to use the
phrase of an English writer. That is,
he must not be very reserved and con-
centrated in his emotions and affections,
but have certain expahsiveness of ma
ture and openness of manner. He must
not be too fastidious, but able to take
people for what they are, and what they
are worth to him for the passing mo-
ment and the needs of the social hour.
He must not be of too intense nature,
nor SO preoccupied with the serious as
poets and duties of life that he is una
BILE to put them aside temporarily, and
lend himself to lighter thoughts and
lighter people. One Of the pleasantest
men ever met was one of the most
hardworking, devoted to dozen good
causes and public interests beside his
personal and professional ones. None
of these were made bore to others,
and his equable and kindly disposition.
his readiness to enter into other per-
sons ideas. his interest in literature
and art as we'll as weightier matters of
politics and science, made him able to
please and be pleased by men and
women of the most diverse sorts. 1t
has sometimes struck me forcibly with
respect to such man. how pleasant he
must be to himself-how comfortable
to live with every day!-Atlantic.