Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-08-13
Social elf-Consciousness

THE would be refOrmat tory writer upon
social conditions will have it that in all
their dOwnsittings and up-risings, their
outdoor and indoor existence, the per-
sons described are more or less self-con-
sciOuS and pose for effect in cOnspic
uousness. But he forgets that habit be-
comes second nature very quickly, and
it soon gets to be no more exciting for
Mrs. GOldengilt to put a ruby ring on
her finger than for Mary Jane to put a
red ribbon in her hair. 1t is the unusual
ness of a thing that makes enc over
conscious of it-keenly uive to new SEN
sationS as we are-but if a lady, even
very new lady, has walked over priceless
carpets. sat in high places, driven in fine
chariots and Jared sumptuousy every
day for a sufficient number of days, she
takes it quite as a matter of course; just
as, in a little while. she would endure
the reverse of fortune that bereft her of
all these things. 1t is. hope, as Amer
lean to assume one condition with ease
as the other.
But after all, if the newly arrived did
plume themselves a little on their sur
rOundirgs, their sumptu0sities of all
sorts, that are important with the i'm
portance of just-posseSsed things, it
would be only rather touching provided
they did it naturally enough. like chill
dren with new toys. Pretense is the real
vulgarity. To be ashamed of the past
| because it was not less worthy, but less
| afiuenti to be afraid to show yourself
| for what you are, not because t is not a
decent, respectable entity enough, but be-
! cause you are not sure that it will i'm
press the society in which you find your
| self: to hesitate to offer what you have,
| for fear it may not be so good as what
YOU suspect your neighbors of having
| that is a kind of self-consci0usness
| which leads to false show, and is in
| 6nitpIv more to be condemned than any
artless delight in the trailing of fine new
| feathers by fine new birds for the fine
old birds to see. And the fine old birds
| that haven't perhaps such grand feath-
| ars themselves any mOre-do not a bit
mind seeing the new ones come to the
| front if they come with good nature and
nice feeling.
Good birth is Il matter Of accident and
| good breeding of environment. but good
| nature ma= spring IRON any soil and
| bless anyone who comes in contact with
! If I do not mean that particular good
| nature which Marion Crawford CON
| temnad as ''the vuIgarity that wanted to
/ nlpase everybody. and the weakness that
! could not say no" / mean the sort
| which comes from real rightness Of heart
and needs only to be combined with a
| little tact and Intelligence to find its
| passport Of entrance made out for 1t IN
almost any society in the world. As for
! GOOD manners. the whole code is practl-
| callv summed up in these two lines:
Politpness is to do and say
The kindest thing In the kindest way
Kings could do no more. and com
maners should think twice before they
treat each other to less. OF course II
NAV be pointed out that Kindness is as
largely made up Of reiraining, OF re-
gfrainr. as of benign amiability. You
must be as careful 10 protect people
| self as Won are DESTROYS 10 give then
what they do. But Oh the whole We most
of nse have the wish To understand, e
he sympathetic, and it ought not TO takf
anyone long to learn the way.-Carolln'
King Duer in Vogue.
--O+.O-
T-av,,;ro fo- ENGLISH Women