Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-01-28
9aAiea' Column.
The True Way to be Nice.

Most persons, it may be admitted,
cannot become interesting without an
effort. The drawer knew a man of
an inquisilive but not primarily an
original mind who was always most
entertaining companion on account of
his information, upon which he drew
modestly, and without boring any
body, whenever it was needed. And
having the habit, he kept himself fill
ed up by reading and observation.
The society of man of this sort
pals, if, of course, he has been well
enough brought up to be personally
agreeable. While it is not possible
to prescribe rule by following which
girls may become entertaining and
always desired members of society, it
is safe to say that person will never
be interesting unless she in interest
ed. To be interested in something
outside of ones self is a necessity of
the situation. That always with any
companion makes a point of interest.
There has been a growing complaint
this season-and it is one of many
seasons standing-of the scarcity of
Young men az the resorts, and it has
also been limited that the young men
who did appear were uninteresting.
This is the fault of the young men,
for the young women have been as
attractive as ever. But it must be
kept in mind that, however devoid of
entertaining qualities men may be at
a certain age. from lack of experience
and of any actual taking hold of life,
Cor from the idea that they know it
all, they will soon plunge into work,
either business or a profession, that
will interest them, teach them a
knowledge of human nature and of
affairs, and then they will become, in
one degree and another, interesting
persons. Where will the young wom-
en- be then who have been content to
rely upon the charms of youth and
beauty, and have cultivated no inter
est in anything beyond the more or
less artifcialities of being agreeable
in a conventional society? No part
nership goes well unless all the par
ties contribute something to it. Mar
riage is no exception to this, as
great many people have discovered,
even those who do not accept the
cvnic's definition that marriage is in
tended for discipline. Love being,
of course, the attraction in marriage,
good comradeship is the working cap
ital, and good comradeship between
uninteresting people is an impossible
ity unless each is too stupid to find
out what the other lacks.
This goes upon the assumption
perhaps it is q strained one in these
days-that getting married ought to
be an object to be considered in prep
aration for life. But the argument
for q girl to make herself interesting
by gaining information and by throw
ing herself enthusiastically into some
sort of pursuit is still stronger if she
intends to remain single, or remains
so by chance. For to be destined to
ones own company when one is unin-
teresting and devoid of external in
terests is a dreary outlook. On the
other hand, it is feared that modern
education will be pushed so far and
girls will become so interesting that
they can find no equal mates. There
sometimes seems to be this danger.
But it can at worst be only temper
airy. Boys are very quick to 'catch
on" Git is their own phrase) to a new
idea, and, whatever course girls take,
they are reasonably certain to draw
all men after them. The world has
been so arranged.-Ha1per''s Maya
zine.