The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-26
a PROPHET may live without
~ honor in his own time ard
~ country, but a truly charming
- man or woman never does. That

- man or woman never does. That
Is because the charming indi-
vidual disarms us Of doubt, criticism or
Indifference by exercising upon us the
spell of what 1 call everyday and all
day agreeability.
To exercise this spell you must establish
q habit, a habit of being agreeable early
and late. and especially in the so-called
small relations of life, where good many
persons do not seem to think 1t In the
least important to be agreeable at ALL 1t
Is habit, however, formed by d1nt OF
little effort of nice ambition and kindly
goodwill and it goes so far toward max
Ing life well worth the living for ones
self and for everybody else that am
always wondering why more people do not
study little in order to acquire 1t.
One Who Understands Its Uses.
Now I can best illustrate the practical
application Of this excellent habit by tell
ing you of one who does understand it's
uses and the purposes and powers Of that
delightful necromancy of all-day agree
ability. This Individual Is a woman, a
friend Of mine, who was not born with
q silver spoon in her mouth, nor did the
goddess Of beauty preside about her era
die.
For all that, when she came down to
the breakfast table yesterday she was a
sight as welcome as the flowers that
bloom in the spring. She wore such a
6ullIlB ulOTlllHS lace ana SuCn a SHINING
morning manner; she came into the din
tng-room with such a hattering air of
being glad to see all. and she wished us
good morning in a tone that tailed with
her expression. I had heard her saying
good morning In just that gay sweet tone
to the postman, to the maid servant in
the hall, and even to the house cat who
sat In the window. and they all seemed
to feel the better and the brighter for
her greeting.
When she got into her chair she looked
at each dish set before her as tho it's con-
tents pleased her nightly, and I noticed
that she did not complain Of the weather
or tell Of a broken nights rest or read
out the particularly bad news that had
come in one Of her letters. She spoke in a
tone Of voice that did not interfere with
the comfort that the head Of the house
was taking in the perusal Of his newspaper
and she made a little joke that even set
the sulky member Of the family to laugh
Ing. Somehow after she had been at table
five minutes the children were ready to
set off for school in high good humor, and
the head Of the house rushed away to
catch his trolley car with an air Of hav-
ing breakfasted wisely and we'll.
AereeablIty Below Stairs.
After breakfast this charming artful
woman took the matter Of her housekeep-
Ing In hand in a manner that appeared
Infinitely to please her servants. She dis
cussed the meals for the day without an
nouncing that the whole matter bored her
to death, and that she wished she lived
in hotel She paid the cook an honest
compliment on her coffee; she criticised
the dinner Of the night before, but in a
way and with an expression that took the
sting out Of 1t. She gave attention to
complaints either sound or foolish with
out wearing g. helpless or anonyed air
and when the laundress loudly and angrily
announced her intention to leave at once,
heard the mistress say quite gently:
Il am sorry something has gone wrong
Mary. Come up to my room in ten min
utes, please, and tell me just why you
have decided to co.
"Ten minutes" she smilingly whisp.
cred to me. gives us both time to gel
command Of our tempers and I've found
In dealing with the servants, that it is
kindest to let them pour out their griev-
ances In private, to try to look at the
trouble from their point of view, If yor
can. and then to part from them or
friendly terms, If part you must"
But In ten minutes the conference end
ed so amicably that the laundress wen
back almost cheerfully to her washtub
and I saw that the humble Irish woman
had appreciated the tiny compliment o.
having her troubles talked over, her rea
son and dignity appealed to, and the frac
ton Of an hour given to the friendly con
sideration Of her woes and privileges.
AgreeabIIty In TrlfIes
When the last detail Of Housekeeping
had been settled. saw my model Of goot
manners sit at her desk for half hour