Arizona republican., 1905-06-12

shall contribute something. be it much or little, to its social wealth. At any rate every man, for his own sake, should cultivate such social talents as he may possess. A common mis- take is in thinking that unless one eXcels ona should be counted out. In truth rivalry more than anything else destroys the fun of the game. If a man has a voice let him sing and let him not break up the choir because the leader will insist on giving the other singers a show. If he can tell a story let him tell it, and then let him listen and deign to at least smile at the other fellows feeble effort: on no account should he take the middle of the stage and then keep it to the exclusion of the other players. To monopolize social attention is as ob- jectionable as other monoDolies. know a man with a deserved reputa- ton as a raconteur of French Cana dian dialect stories Some summers ago he was one of yachting party which lasted over night. After dinner he was asked to relate one of his fam ous stories. He did so, then told an other and then another. Finally an other guest managed to break in long enough to tell an amusing bear story, then my friend resumed the floor and kept it until the party broke up for the night. The next day he was asked by one who was not present what sort of a time the party had the night be- fore. He replied, "We all had a fine time and the evening would have been perfect had not that Chicago fellow at tempted to tell miserable bear story
 If a young woman has a pleasant laugh it has its value, provided it be not obviously the result of much prac- tice under the tutelage of the elocu- tion teacher. It is not so much what a man contributes so long as he avoids the possibility of being a bore. No matter how entertaining he be. let him learn when to begin and particularly when to leave off.
 THE GOOD OF OPTIMISM.
 Some of us. however, have not the gift of humor. nor tenor voices like Caruso's, and quite miss the point when we essay the wittiest story, but we can all form part of the audience which is an indispensable part of the show. There is one thing which I am sure we can all cultivate to a high de- gree of perfection. and that is a cheer full optimism which sees something to be commended in nearly everybody, something of promise and hope in all most every circumstance or situation. The pessimist is never a favorite. No one has any love for the unsparing critic, the chronic grumbler the habit ual fault-finder, the retailer of mali cious gossip. Good cheer is a tonic, good nature sweetens every cup, hu- nor gladdens the feast, and wit, if 1t be not too trenchant, gives sparkle and zest to the wine of life. Some men radiate good fellowship as a Wilson heater radiates heat and with as lit tie in the way of genius or talent as the other of fuel. We can all be of this class if we but discard the self conscious pride which often passes for modesty but which is rooted in the feeling that our agreeable personalities are not appreciated, and enter whole heartedly into whatever of social life we may be privileged to enjoy. We can, to some extent, choose, and, to a large extent, create our social en- vironment, for courtesy, grace of man. ner, sympathy and geniality create aI- ways and everywhere an atmosphere in which the social virtues thrive and flourish.
 THE ART OF READING.
 In this age of newspapers, magazines and books, it may seem superfiuous to advert to taste for reading as a desirable part of the intellectual equip ment of the educated man or woman Everybody reads the newspapers, mil- lions read the ten cent magazines, and the edition of a popular novel ire quently runs into six figures. Yet a healthy and genuine taste for reading is far from being universal even with people of fair intelligence. A brilliant writer of the day, herself a popular novelist, has denOminated the vora- ctous reading of everything printed as vice. If a vice be defined to be a degenerate habit. there is much to jus ttty the characterization. When the normal curiosity to know what is hap pening from day to day degenerates into an unsuitable desire for novelty without regard for subject, importance or truth, exhibited by many newspa- per readers, the habit of reading be- comes abnormal, unhealthy and, judg- ing from it's demoralizing effects, even vicious. The newspaper is an essen tial factor of modern life. It is rap idly solidifying the human family and breaking down all barriers of race, religion, custom and prejudice. It stimulates an interest in the larger affairs which concern the world and in this way infinitely enlarges the intel lectual horizon of man; yet it must be confessed that much of the stuff we read every day is of the most trivial and transient character To appreci- ate this just try to read d newspaper a month old. The popular magazine is but the newspaper more carefully edited and with all locals eliminated. The reading which is worth while. aside from that which affords us in formation (which includes newspapers and books pertaining to ones business or profession). and a taste for which. makes up an essential part of the equipment of a cultivated person, Is of that which usually re- mains uncalled for on the shelves of the public library. When one thinks of the wealth of good reading in the ha 4z