The Washington herald., 1908-01-26
FROM WO MAN S
POINT OF VIEW

Conspict cusiy displayed In the window
of uttl, booth where soda checks are
/ sold is this sign. Try TO look pleasant,
even If il does hurt you." and its effect
upon those whose surprised eyes meet the
words is worth noting It is a bit rough
! Iy expressed and the first effect IS some
thing Of shock. but that is instantly
followed by a general relaxation Of the
muscles OF the face.
| Sour looks are not always an indication
OF unpleasant thoughts. The human face
settles into unconscious habits and the
mark Of annoyance on the face remains
/ long after the uRpleasantness is forgot
/ ten. man who is the fortunate pos
SCISSOR Of sunny nature burst into the
house the other evening with the bolster
out air Of school boy, and to his wife's
surprised inquiry regarding the cause Of
| his gayety, he answered that on his way
/ home he was suddenly struck with the
| thought that he was getting too sedate.
From that time on he meant to be merry.
/ The good woman had seen no fault in
/ him since she assumed his name. but she
/ realized that his resolution was harmless
and should be helped along. If merry
heart made life nicer for him it would
do quite as much for her. so she is fol-
| lowing his example. We do not see much
/ light-heartedncss outside the ranks Of
/ the youthful We begin to take life very
/ seriously before we really know much
about il, and much is required 20 openly
{ amuse us. Professional entertainers are
often mt their wits end To draw laugh
/ ter. OF even smiles. from audiences whose
/ cOldness ana unresponsiveness penetrates
/ TO the wings Of me stage l have hea-d
one Of the funniest actresses on the stage
say that there nave been nights when she
sought her dressing room with chattering
teeth after an act into which she threw
/ her best effort with dismal results
The crowded house refused to be amused
and refused so strongly and unanimously
/ that she felt 10 insignificant for words.
She would have liked 10 return their mon
ey, even though she worked her hardest
TO earn It, We have gone pretty far in
the wrong direction when We cannot see
the hUmor of a funny story or absurd
situation; when we cannot appreciate wit
and Clcverness. We have gone too far
when our faces look as IL life had but
one side, and that dull gray. / am al
ways glad each Christmas that 1 have not
lost my desire TO hang up my stocking,
even though most of my presents are too
large 10 be put into 1t. ] know that way
down in the toe VIII be something choice.
AVID finding IL there adds 10 the pleasure
OF receiving H.
The only remedy FOR Il too serious
mind is the cultivation Of a habit Of find
ing amusement in triaes Watch the
birds and note their similarity 10 hui
mans i'm many little ways. Watch the
children at their silly little games and
see how interested you can become IN
the progress of "a game OF hop-scotch OF
marbles Listen 10 conversation i'm pub
DC places and laugh at the absurd mis-
takes Of those who are talking bat be
careful 10 avoid hurting anybody's feel
inEs. I heard one woman trying 10 tell
another what lOcom0tOr atdXia was. as
she understood it, and I had a good in
ward laugh at what would probably be
the other wOmans description 10 the
next person who asked for that partic-
ular bit Of information. 1t was harmless
amusement. BETTY BRADEE%