Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-08-04
More About the Unnecessary Excuse.

At Mrs. Dinadan's the other night
three guests were scandalously late.
There were ten in all, and seven were
Kept waiting for these delinquents. The
first 10 arrive apologized profusely and
humbly for delaying the assembled par
ty. The second told comical STORY.
about mishaps and hindrances that had
befallen him on the way, Durinr flo
recital the third arrived. just in time to
join i'll chorus of laughter and say an
preciatively to the hostess, ''Wasn't thar
TOO delicious. / can see we are GOING
10 have the good time we always hove
mt your house."
Mrs. Dinadan may be different from
most women, but 1t is certain that She
felt more kindly toward this impepitpnt
natteref IMAM toward the two just men
who had either confessed or atoned far
their fault A'i
Later the impenitent one confded to =
neighbor at table: Il never apologize
1t does no good. If people are offended
they get over it; if they are NOT ofFnndaJ
apologizing just sets them to tbinkin q
that they might be-
Sergius in Arms and the Man. adj
Nahces doctrine like that. At appro-
pfIa.g intervals ne utters parrot cry
OF never apologize; 81 never 20
tract Il never withdraw: folding his
arms with measured emphasis. according
to Shaws stage directions Sergius wos
4 prepostefouS poseur, a romantic high
flown idiot, yet in this respect his mad
ness mas some method in it. For apOlo-
gieS are generally useless. or worse.
No doubt gentleman will saw 'ex.
cuse me" when he inadvertently iostIns
or interrupts or passes in front IF an
other. Things that look like gentlemen
often say excuse me" first, and then
do the rude pushing or over-reachinp.
IKE those picturesque medieval ruffians
who procured an indulgence in advance
OF bludgeoning an enemy. There is even
a so-called apology which is an absolute
insult. Excuse me, Susanna" saws
her TOO candid brother, but that is the
queerest gown | ever saw" And Su-
sauna JOY in her new frOck is turned
INTO mourning. Il beg your pardon la
dies, but the chickens sing better than
that" bumptious lad remarks TO two
girls trying ever a duet. He ought to be
killed for it.
We all know the apology that is mere
~ piece of mock modesty, a vain lit
tie rite, covert fishing for compliments.
wherein the speaker humbles himself
tina he may be exalted. OF such were
the hypOcrisies of the old-fashioned
country hostess when the minister came
TO tea. Alas! her pies We're not like
those his mother used to make: the pre-
serves didn't turn out as she would wish
to have them; he cream-well they had
poor luck with their cows this year. And
all the while the worthy woman was
swelling with justifiable pride. She no
more meant what she said than the
Japanese means it when he speaks to
his honorable guest about his disgraceful
wife or his wretched mousse.
May one, then, never express a sincere
regret?
Well, in the Anticipated ''Pinafore"
phrase, Hardly ever When an apol-
ogy is not a superfuous ceremony it is
apt to be the reopening of an old wound.
If you have hurt another person. YOU
naturally desire to make him comfort
able again. The question is whether an
apology does so. Often a set speech
tightens the tension of strained situa-
ton. a laugh is the best loosener. but
n takes great tact to laugh in exactly
the right way. Not all of us dare at
tempt it. Without trained lightness of
Touch it is better to leave i'll alone.
sometimes airing a hurt increases the
Smart.-House Beautiful.