Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-06-11
THE KNoCKER.


which, while not academic, is never
theless the language of action and
the doing Of things. A "knocker"
is a man who belongs to what has
been called the anvil chorus" com
posed OF those who devote their time
and energy to finding fault with
other persons, things, and the con-
dition of affairs generally The
state of mind which produces this
peculiar complaint Is most deplor-
able possession for any man. And
yet there are those who seem to
think that Knocking" is the best
possible way Of pushing to the front.
Never was there a greater mistake
no man ever rose to Success by
Knocking" and none ever will. For
the qualities which make for Sue
cess are as far removed from the
aforesaid Objectionable mental con
dltion, as one pole Is from another.
The chronic "knocker" loses no
opportunity for indulging in his fa-
vorte pastime-it has become
fixed idea with him. He is prepared
to find fault with anything and
everything, IN sight and out of sight.
Nothing suits hlm--he cannot be
suited. No matter how good a thing
may be, he Is always ready with his
butts aud IFS" or his shrugs and
significant lifting of the eyebrows.
He deems II sign Of experience and
wisdom to doubt things he thinks
that cheap cynicism is an evidence
Of superior worldly wisdom. But he
Is mistaken from first to last-he
fools nobody but himself. The bus-
ness people with whom such a man
comes I'm contact soon learn to take
his measure, and before long he is
filed away in the "knocker" list
the list Of men to be avoided
In the first place, while many
people viii smile when another be-
gins to run down" other people, the
smile Is rather one Of derison and
secret amusement at the expense of
the person talking rather than any
mark Of approval or sign of agree
ment or acceptance Of the opinions
uttered The hearer inwardly makes
mental memorandum that the
speaker has a grievance against the
person or thing which he is running
down" or else has something to gain
by the procedure. In either case the
opinion Is discounted, and is not
taken seriously by the hearer Hear
ers have troubles Of their own, and
as rule are inclined to let others
fight out their own battles, and ven
tllate their own grievances. The
second time the person begins his
running down process, his hearer
becomes bored, and after that he
tries to avoid the man playing the
anvil chorus. The latter begins to
acquire reputation for being a
Crouch" or "a knocker." in the
words Of the day and he is not well
coined as Is the CHEEKY individual
who always brings a smile--a relief
from the tired feeling that so many
In business experience after three IN
the afternoon. The bringer-in of
sunshine is always welcome, while
the man with the frown and the
down-curved mouth, ana tale or
grievance and complaint, is stunned
and avoided
AS matter of interest, ask that
you notice few of these knockers"
who may como your way. See
whether they are not all more or
less grabbed and pesslmistc See
whether they have not become dis. |
satisfied and discouraged See if |
their milk OF human kindness has
not begun 10 curdlo, See II they |
have not lost initiative aud ambition,
See whethor they are not drifting .
back 20 the plano of the 'haye .
beens,' or "uever-woro-at-alls" See
whether thcy are not retrogradng
! ten YOU, thorv Is nothing IN this
"kuocNng.' ~ is serious hondl.
cap for any mau 10 lB u milestone
around his neck which keeps him
from business success. The world
has worry littlo use for such people
and almost Invariably laughs at them
behind their backs lt says "oh
dear, here comes that Jones with
his ctornal Crouch, again. or My
my viii that Tompkns never let
up on his 'knocklng2 Tell him I'm
out the next time he calls" That Is
what the world SAYS about you, Mr.. !
Knockcr--no matter how Il may
smile during the recital OF your
running downs Don't be fooled
by the smile it Is a smile at you,
rather than with YOU The sooner
you learn this fact, the better II will
he for you IL Ia unnl,npnot r,nat /