The San Francisco call., 1910-04-03

[<N TARE-CAT! Stare-cat" Haven't
you heard the other children
~ yell it after you when you were
little and disagreeable? And haven't you
gior1ed in calling it vicously from be-
hind a concealing tree after your dear
est foe?
Don't you recall very naughty day
when your mother would positively
have whipped you if you'd done one
thing more-how you. a small. ugly mite
Of q child, called "Stare-cati" at the ton
Of your voice after a nice looking lady
who CHANGED to glance in your direc-
ton with the self-possession to which
you had not yet attained?
The stare habit is a most disconcert
Ing one, and children object Just as
strenuously to 1t even now. Bring
forth the angel-faced child who will de-
velop wings while you wait, when forced
INTO the center of an admiring (staring)
throng of grown-upsl He will rather
turn Titan and exercise his strength to
the dlscredit of the parents who have
lately thrust him forth triumphant, but
who now drag him out disconsolate.
Children take in their superiors-in
age-with wondering and disconcert-
ing gaze which. however 1t NAV strike
lis at the moment, is to be more readily
grapqled with than the apparent curl
osity of our equals in years
We stare, as a people. more than we
realize. We don't exactly turn round
and look after one another; something
usually prevents our standing still to
stare: but we might almost as well com
init this objectionable sin. so plainly do
we proclaim our anxiety to delve into
the mystery that-we think-gathers
round some chosen mark among our
fellow beings
1t is a habit this inordnate desire to
see, and It grows upon US and fastens
tually be permitted this satisfaction Qn
our own minds) that we would with
out doubt deny to others when we are
TO be the butt
Just make the experiment and trv
how you feel when some self -suficient
creature fastens her feline gaze on Won
in defenseless moment when you don't
lights. - Ai -
once sat myself uncomfortably down
lnothing on earth could have made me
feel, any easier in mind on that par
Mcular day) in long-seated trolley car
They are at best an invention of the
enemy. and not in the least a dis
courager to the stare-cat.
umbrella whose hook handle had
caught on my coat fastener. The coat
was out OF fashion. and | was CHASTITY
uncomfortable in it. anyway. The
A4otiNiS VI -Aiiy Do6 Iidu urea 10 come OH.
but had got at my purse and paid
as | entered
These things might not have been
clustering at any other time but I'm
sensitive-a little-and seemed to have
been causing mild sensation and it
agitated me.
Everybody was loo king at me.
The. woman directly across might lust
as we'll have clapped concealing hand
across her mouth to hide her rude
ness, so evidently was she Whispering
about me.
Her eyes looked it; so did her hus-
bands. Hers was no mere mental
comment; she wasadoing 1t openly and
aboveboard by actual word of mouth
TO her companion, who was obviously
entertained, though less inclined to crit
icism His face looked appreciation of
the facts related: hers. amusement
She did me as a whole; I was not
mistaken. and after commenting in a
general way, 1t did not take her long
> TO get down to the concrete She was
interested in my shoes and in the very
buttons on my coat, and In nv stock
collar, which was crushed, after the
whole days wear. She tackled my hat
ana the season was too near its end to
imply a crisp perfection in headgear.
woman never quite knows whether
hat comment is pleasing or displeasing
to her, but she got to my actual features
presently and. with womans keen
ness, she saw the tiny birthmark on the
side of my face. This was too much
gave one unearthly shrek and left
the car.