The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-30
NOW TO BECOME POPULAR.
wellesley Girl Made Herself n Bore by He
TaCtless Application of the Principle.

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wellesley Girl Made Herself n Bore by Her
Tactless Application of the Principle.
Ten Wellesley graduates met at luncheon one
day last week. Some OF the girls had not seen
each other since college days. and there was a
mutual and thorough sizing up. One plain girl.
in a remarkable blue gown, displayed great
~vivacity. She kept up an animated conversa-
ton with her neighbors at table. and later she
went about buttonholing every one who came
her way and allowing the victim no chance to
escape. When she finally made her adieux and
disappeared through the door. three girls. who
were still left. sank back into their chairs and
looked at each other blankly.
What on earth has happened to Mary
Smith 2" said one Of the group In awestruck
tones. She used to be q nice, quiet sort Of
girl at college. not much fun. you know, but
inoffensive. Now she talks so fast she can't
stop for breath, and she. can ask moro oues-
tions in five minutes than 1 could answer in an
hour. She sat beside me at luncheon. and she
didn't let me eat q mouthful in peace. She
asked me what I'd been doing and what I was
doing and what I intend to do. She inquired
about my religion and my politics. and my
tailor and my salary and each member OF my
family. 1t was the most exhausting thing /
ever went through"
She cornered me over there. by the piano.
and put me through the same sort Of an
ordeal" said a second girl.
she knows more about me now than mother
does" sighed the third girl. And yet it's q
funny thing. She didn't seem exactly in
q~uisitive and curious. You'd think she had to do
1t, but didn't care much about It," The hostess
smiled; .,.,
told me about herself one day. You know she
was clever at school. took prizes and all that,
but she never I;I made friends i'd al / don't DON'T know now Why
didn't care about prizes. but she, was simply
ers. and she tried so hard. but She never made
one real friend in the school.
After she left school she came home. and
she didn't have any better luck in that life:
She has a sister who is 2 perfect duck-one Of
the me.S deliS cH% Sr 6tis5t' adm di%PltSSdi ed s 0rs1tH .ist the
and are good to Mary. but that's ali. She vent
around eyerywhere with the sister, and no one
pie were unkind, you know. but she didn't in
who trains girls for society. teaches them ali
kinds Of arts and graces and makes hoEling
bellies OF, them. Mary didn't say, anything
SSoH Iss 81; Sn' T fRs W teaehe up d idfts Sf her s IN %Sisl
ing and sitting and tanning and smiling until
doll. Then she told her that she wasn't, VI
vacious enouEh-thatsh she must talk and sparkle,
do ali sorts Of things like that. II she had
stopped with the STORYTELLING. one might have
stood the result: but she told the girl that the
secret pr popularity gSs to appeal to the ego;
loved TO talk about himself and his own af-
fairs, and that the sympathetic person, who
could draw others out. who professed q lively
interest In the personal affairs and views Of the
people she knew. was sure to win their liking
and interest.
Mary swallowed the theory whole. I dare
say there is a good deal Of sense In IL: but the
sympathetic interest. needs to be very tactfully
displayed, and Mary has about as much tact as
a stone wall. The teacher gave her the prin-
ciple and left the application to her. and the
hearts one desire. She's enthusiastic over her
new theory: and, she makes out lists Of ques;
lions that could be used on any one. and
others that are, applicable to certain persona
artists. musicians and authors; She'sso eager
about IL that she starts right In the moment
she meets any one and pumps up, questions
until the victim escapes, Shame. isn't it2 L
suppose when she conIlded In me / ought to
have labored with ,heri but she seemed SO
pleased and happy that Just shook my head
and said nothing"
The three girls tried TO look sympathetic. but
all subsidized into giRGles. -.
We'll. that teacher ought to be suppressed"
said the one who had suffered most,
IF she should let many such pupils loose. on
society the plaques OF Egypt would be nothing
to IL, said another.