The Washington herald., 1907-03-01
FROM WOMAN'S
POINT OF VIEW.

Who IS the best-liked woman Of your
acquaintance? The woman Of discretion.
20 be sure, the one who says nice things
| to your face and behind your back. thus
proving her sincerity; who ignores I'M
( pleasant remarks and never makes mis-
I chief by carrying tales She may receive
the condolences OF an her feminine friends,
but no hint does she give Of such pro-
/ ceedings.
Tale-bearing is a grave fault causing
the lions share Of misery in this world.
/ Il is considered unsafe to intrust a wom-
/ an with a secret because Of the truly
feminine habit of taking others into her
confidence and sharing it so generously
/ that nothing remains. This does not ap-
/ ply to all women. but the exceptions are
/ only met by accident. Men regard the
betraying Of confidence as a dishonorable
act, placing offenders outside the pale of
/ forgiveness, and that is the stand taken
I by the few women who are able to steer
safely through the sea of trouble stirred
/ up by their careless sisters.
Some women frankly declare that popu-
/ larity is not worth striving for. but surely
/ il is better TO have the respect of a. com
munity and the affection Of friends than
/ TO be regarded as a general nuisance.
Good nature is a paying commodity. and
the care necessary to avoid friction is
not much OF a strain upon intelligent
/ human beings. There may be some sort
! Of satisfaction for unhealthy natures I'm
stirring up mischief and adding 90 the
discomfort Of life, but IL so such natures
are the kind to avoid.
1t is not good sense TO be too commu-
NEGATIVE There are hosts of things we
should keep to ourselves. and we do not
realize 1t till the mischief is done By
/ careless speech, The habit of taIe-bear-
ing is often formed in childhood. but that
is no excuse for carrying it through life.
Many of our best-mannered womeu. were
deficient in early training and owe all
their polish TO personal care after child
| hood had been left behind. There are
women in the world noted for their per
feet tact and they are self-taught.
1t is a great achievement TO be able 10
see only the SOod in those about us, TO
interpret all acts in a charitable way
and to be persistently blind 10 imperfec-
tons which We must endure. II is al
ways best 10 choose the beautiful side
when we can, but it is wise to ignore
unpleasantness which we cannot remedy.
When a condition can be bettered there
is no sense in bearing it; when disagree
ables can be Stunned it is foolish to meet
them. If / have a feeling Of squeamish-
ness over the sight or suggestion OF
blood, 1 would be foolish indeed 20 sit
through the greatest masterpiece Of "a
literary and musical genius or to allow
curiosity 10 lead me into investigating
a crowd that might reveal something re-
pulsive.
Yet I have seen women who do both
and am familiar with the results that
followed Women of morbid tendencies
need cheerful reading matter. bright COM
pany. and real amusements. and they
make an opposite choice In everything.
They read stories that destroy their APP
petite OF keep them awake in bed or
give bad dreams. They are surrounded
with people who flood them with tales Of
woe and they go TO plays where they can
weep and be supremacy miserable. Gen
orally they have wills Ike old rags. or
they would get out of such an atmos-
phere; and healthy-miEded men and
women have TO live with them II is
hardly fair 20 the latter. 1 should say.
BETTY BRADEEN.