The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-18
EVENING CHAT
BY RUTH CAMERON

why is she so popular" group of
us were wondering about a girl the
other day. ~-
We all admitted that she wasn't at
all pretty or particularly stylish, that
she wasn't brilliant talker-and had
\ especially noteworthy talents.
| Some one said, "She's so good-tem-
rt red and then some one else hit the
nail on the head.
| "She seems to feel other peoples
ceilings
And that's just what she does. and
lust what is the secret of her popular
ity.
If any one in the company in which
or i'll at ease, she instantly senses 1t
and tries to relieve the difficulty.
It is this ability to feel other peo-
.,le's feelings that makes many people
great favorites, despite handicaps in
personal appearance and talents, while
wit and beauty apparently ought to
make them social successes are left out
ir the cold
1 used to wonder once on time at
he surprising popularity of certain
rnassuming little woman, until 1 heard
story which gave me the key.
She had some exquisite cups OF a
are old Japanese ware, of which she
vas extremely proud.
One day when she was serving tea in
IL
a trifle carelessly and the egg-shall
thing crumbled in his fingers.
AS he gazed ruefully at the RUNS
and tried to stammer an apology, his
hostess, despite her grief at the ruined
set, at once treasured him, "He must
Lot mind" she insisted, sit was not
IN the least to be wondered at. Those
cups were really ridiculously fragile
+tings.'
And then, as her guest was still un-
fo cd little tadV did
hing which consider as hardly short
of heroic.
"Why, look" she cried. picking up
enc of her precious cups, they are
can break them,,' and as If by accident
she too crushed a cup into fragments
in her hand.
That surely was the quintesserce of
the ability to feel other peoples feel
.ngs."
Another perfect example of that fine
sensitiveness, that deserves to stand
beside that story, I remember hearing
my grandfather tell.
When ice cream was first invented it
was, of course, luxury enjoyed only
4. the tables of the wealthy.
One day, when it had been in use
but a few years, an English squire
served it at his annual dinner to his
tenants.
Most of them had never seen ice
cream before, and some had never even
heard of it. One of the latter class
who sat near the squire tasted his
dessert and then leaning over to his
host, whispered to him that he thought
The pudding must have somehow got
ten frozen. esq., 49,
And the squire-all honor to him..
Instead of correcting his guest, gravely
summoned a servant and sent him to
inquire about the pudding.
On his return the squire leaned over
and informed the tenant with all due
yravity that he had inquired and
| found out that there was no mistake; ;
that this was simply a new style pud-
ing which was meant to be frozen.
Another example of the old-time
sensitiveness and courtesy" I had
| ..tarted to say, and then rebuked my
self.
For we are far too willing to admit
that such courtesy, such ability to re-
spond to the feelings of others is old
rime or old world.
Why not make ourselves race OF
:. ose who feel other peoples feel
.ngs"? Why not try to make cour-
te,sy thing distinctively American and
twentieth century?