The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-04-24
The Art OF Being
As &. 2aS Agreeable 'y ds4sss:

sympathy before I can get round to
make a cali. and [ want to let Mr.
Brown know that the book he sent me
has come safely to hand" and her pen
went whizzing along the paper before
she slipped into her hat and coat. and
We took our way into the street on
shopping bent
Across the way she stopped at the
florists and ordered a half dozen roses
sent 10 the frail old man who conducts
the literature class TO which she be-
longs. and who for two weeks has been
shut in with an attack of bronchitis;
and then. brief as our time was. she
insisted upon walking "A block out of
her way to see that a stranger in the
town Was correctly directed to the
streets she desired to reach.
When we finally got into the car my
friend pushed steadily into the forward
end in order not to block the door, she
explained, and when man gave her
his seat. she said quite audibly and
with little bow, "That il very kind
Of YOU" 1 thought he looked particU-
larly satisfied, somehow, TO have given
his place 10 SO gracious a lady, who
carefully drew all her wraps and skirts
closely about her in order 20 give
plenty of room to another woman. kept
her umbrella close 10 her side and re-
Trained, noticed. from discussing with
me any personalities.
That is q dangerous and sometimes
cruel indulgence in public. Who knows
how clearly some idle bits OF ones Cos
sip may reach the ear of a friend Of a
friend and thus give inexpTessible
pain2
An animated discussion OF a new
book was interrupted by Nine. Agree
ability rising and pressing into her
seat a slim, pallid young girl carrying
a heavy dressmaker's tray.
1T is quite right" my agreeable
friend insisted. Il look just twice as
strong as you, and I am carrying no
bundles: besides, / shall get out very
soon" and she nodded at the fragile
girl - brightly that the pale face vas
illuminated with a smile that made il
almost beautiful.
Some Neglected Courtesies.
Out of the car admiringly followed
my friend. who wendell her way into
a crowded shop with a considerate
caution that I wished to emulate. and
with an observance of some of the
neglected little courtesies that made
me realize anew their value. With a
smile she held the swinging doors
back for a fussy old lady and later, at
a crowded counter, where we were in
great haste to be waited upon, an
pushed us both into her place. 1t was
the fussy old lady, who was making
some return TO my friend for her kind
ness in holding back the swinging door
and helping her TO unfurl a clumsy
umbrella.
y moment later. where bargains held
the crowd, my agreeable friend won
the day by giving up with a genuine
apology a pretty piece of damask that
n lasar- eh oil al
not know that it was yours, and I am
SO sorry l tried to pull it out of your
hand" she said, -yhereas the opposite
bargain hunter relaxed not only into
good nature, but in her hold on the
damask, and she would hear no other
settlement bat my friends possession
Of the coveted piece. In the end we
three parted the best Of friends over
the bit of damask. and away from the
shop I followed this excellent leader
TO a restaurant.
She chose her table and then we
waited for the friends who were 20
meet and lunch with US.
Ten. fifteen. twenty-five minutes we
waited, and when they arrived, breath
less and full OF apologies, my friend
went forward TO meet them with an
air that was a triumph of the highest
courtesy a hostess can show.
Too bad to think of all the anxiety
and worry you have had she insisted.
please don't think of me, but sit right
straight down and forget it all in this
nice hot bOuillOn," and sure enough
We did forget it all. We ate our lunch
con with the greatest zesJ, because the
hostess took such a comforting air Of
gay unconcern. If she was annoyed or
Inconvenience, her manner gave TO
outward and visible signs of the in
ward agitation; and when the lunch
con was done / counted it as a mark of
true high breeding that she did not
later discuss with me the delinquency
Of her guests and the fTagility OF the
excuses they had offered her
A Test of True Agreeability.
Out Of the restaurant at last and into
the street we went again, with our