Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-06-25
GIVE ONLY HONEST PRAISE.
No Other Kind Is Desired by Right
Thinking People.

Don't praise person when you don't
honestly mean what you say. No, not
even for the sake of making them feel
better. Be honest. If you don't really
admire, and canuot commend, keep 81
lent.
There is temptation to fiarter in the
best-hearted of Us. We want TO praise
for two reasons One is generous rea-
son. and the other is a mean one.
The generous reason is that which is
prompted by our pity, our desire 10 en-
courage. Somebody i doWn-hearted.
We are sorry fer them. We Will try TO
cheer them up by fattery.
Thy, your work Is good, we say
maybe wondering ut the same time just
what their work is-'.you are too modest.
Cheer up. you 10 4 whole lot better than
50 and So
That brings back the smiles Of course.
md those smiles seem to justify Us for
the exaggerated praise Yet Self-satis-
faction built on false ground cannot re-
suit in better work. and may lead to dis
astcr. Generous as the impulse was to
Hatter. it is mistaken and sometimes
even cruel generosity. Much better to
have talked over the reasons for disc0m-
agement, to advise, if possible. and to in
cite. to more energetic efforts.
The meaner motive which moves us to
tiatter is our desire for self-praiSe. We
will scatter compliments broadcast, in
order that those whose vanity we please
may admire us and return the favor.
That is trick we play oftener than
We realize Some people are so suScep-
tible to tiattery tha., only praise them
enough, and they will worship US. We
like to be liked. and so We praise. II is
a craven fiattery and can bring only a
craven adulati0n which will melt away
as soon as compliments cease. Never
does Ii bring any return worth the trou-
Bile of lying for. Always it weakenS the
value of any real praise you may have
to beStOw.
Don't praise when you don't mean it..
That is one side of the question. Here
is the other:
If there is word of praise you can
sincerely say, for heavens sweet sake,
say it,
Say it before it is too late. There
will come day when you would give
yonr all for an opportunity TO speak
words of praise and cannot. because the
ear that you would whisper into is far
beyond the sound of human voices. and
the hand that you would strengthen is
put forever beyond your touch. Say it
| now, before it * too late.
Praise where You can sincerely do so,
not only TO save regret later, but because
it will do you good now. 1t broadcns
the heart TO see the good in another, and
to speak of it. Look for the good points
and praise them, as Il means of develop
ing your own Sympathies.
And why should you speak q word of
praise? Because it is needed. All, Onlg
the human heart knows how sorely it is
needed. Into a heart grown sick with
Encouragement, a word of honest COM
| mendation comes like medicine to in
vigorate the whole system.
A hearty, You are doing bravely |
am proud of YOU" is sometimes all a
man needs to make INN take his hand off
his revolver and turn his back on the
dark river.
Just a little word of honest praise 1t
has put fresh life into tired workers; it
has frightened d whole day that began IL
darkness; it has radiated out into circles
of happiness from the heart into which
YOU dropped it like pebble, and went on
your way.
Yes, you went ON Your way. but the
heart you strengthened remembered you.
| and YOU yourself were made better.
Withhold dishonest fattefy. but where
You see occasion for a word OF praise.
say it-and say it now. You can never
guess the good it will do.-philadelphia
| Evening 'Bulletiu