The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-09-30
81 CHARMING.
FOR YOUNG LADIES.
The Cordial Miss Harris.

"Isn't she charming!
"She couldn't be moro so"
"She isn't pretty"
"N-o. And yet-no, you couldn't
call her at all pretty"
"Certainly not, though you never
think of that. Do you call her
young?"
"No but you never think whether
she is young or old"
ado you think she dresses in good
,taste?"
"Much as I love her, must admit,
now that you make me think OF
it, that she dresses atroclously."
do you count her bright woman -
'.Very-no, I don't believe she is at
ALL 1 can't think of bright thing
l ever heard her say, and don't be-
heve she has an accomplishment.
Why do you suppose we all find her SO
charming?"
IL know why. i formulated it the
other day. She has one accomplish
ment she knows how to shake hands.
You don't notice whether she is high
shaker or low shaker. ALI you notice
10 that she puts into her hand shake
something which makes us find her
the most charming woman we ever
met. The whole secret is that she is,
above everything else, cordial. You
never think of Miss Harris as being
ugly, nor unbecomlngly dressed, nor
stupid, nor any of the unpleasant things.
All these things may be true, but
her great cordiality of manner makes
you feel how glad she is to see you,
and also how very nice you must your
self be to inspire her with such a feel
ing of joy. So you 60 right to work
to be as nice as she seems to think you
are. While you are In her presence,
you may be upon the verge of lapsing
into vicious criticism of the shortcom-
ings of some one whom every one else
thinks detestable, but at the mention
of new name, Miss Harris grows liz
stantly alert, and fairly beams with
cordlality and graciousness. So how
in the world can you say disagreeable
things about people to woman who
always knows some nice little speech
to make about them. even if it is only
to praise the perfect taste with which
their chicken coop is painted?
"Miss Harris taught me another
thing about cordiallty the other day.
All my life I have been meeting PEG
pie on the street whom I was not quite
sure I knew. Many time I have
halt spoken, so that if ought to have
spoken they would take it as a bow,
while if was mistaken, they would
think 1 was suddenly interested in q
bug on the pavement. You know how
mean?"
eyes, indeed as John says he does
when he puts up his hand to take off
his hat, and then tries to pretend to
scratch his ear when he fails to get the
bow he expected"
"Well, Miss Harris spoke In her most
cordial manner the other day to pass
ing stranger, and then said to me she
thought che had made a mistake.
But she said, I always speak, if
speak at all, as though I was sure I
knew the person; for no one is deceiv-
ed by half recognition and every one
reseuts it; while, if you bow heartily
to the wrong person he realizes instant
~ that you haye simply made mis-
take.'
s.Well, if that isn't an easy way to
be the most agreeable person in the
world,-simply to be cordial in manner
Ito be sure you must be cordial at
heart. or you will be found out-iust
to be glad to see folks and tell them
go by face and voice and hand And
for that to he counted the most agree
able person in the world! Well! !"
Growth fthe South.