Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-05-02
How One Busy Woman Keeps her
Friends.

How One Busy Woman Keeps Her
Friends.
"You are suoh busy lady with your
house work, church work and sewing
that do not see how you manage to
keep 30 many friends. Halt the people
in the town know you and are friendly
with you; yet you never give recep-
ton or tea or"
"No, indeed" broke In the Busy
Woman.
"Or even 20 calling that can see"
finished the puzzled neighbor.
"And am not young nor pretty nor
rich nor even Stylish" added the lady
with a rare smile. Then she said sober
", half to herself, at is rather queer
that people stay friendly with me. l
hadn't thought of 1t before"
80. didn't mean it just that way"
stammered the caller. "Of course those
that know you love you because you are
lovable; but l wondered how it is that
people who know you only little do not
cut you dead for not returning their calls
within certain time or leave you out OF
their parties, because you do not enter
tain. / asked for my own sake. l have
such a time trying to keep the peace,
apologize and 60 as much as do"
The Busy Woman narrowed her eyes
at the flame in the Crate for few mo-
ments before she spoke:
"Give my telephone large share OF
the credit. When the evening paper
comes in-that is my leisure time-I
scan its social columns for the names of
friends. II one is mentioned AZ just re-
turning from long trip or summer's
sojourD, 20 straight to the phone, call
her up, and give her cordial greeting,
asking about her travels. Indeed, any
event of Importance in my friends lives
means phone message from me, for 1t
is less formal and quicker than note,
and it voices my sincere interest in them.
"And you would be surprised to see
how 1t pleases people, especially those
who are not intimate friends. do this
usually in the early evening hours, when
the call ia not apt to be an interruption.
"Then / have found that loDg-stem-
med, beautiful flower and my card, car
ried by Dorothy, pleases a friend better
than a call; so when am working In
my garden, getting fresh air and recre-
alton for myself, am also growing q
number of calls, doing them with hoe
instead of a cardcase. We forget that
we'll people love flowers as much as sick
people do; besides,-note this-a lady
doesn't have to be in afternoon dress to
receive either the telephone or the flow
er greeting.
"Another thing love to do Is to send
a new magazine or paper, with some
specially good article marked, for a
neighbours perusal, an article that know
appeals to her taste or chief interest. 1t
Ia easy to remember friends fads, and
1t Ia easy to get the habit of reading with
half an eye for them and three-fourths for
self. None of these things takes any
time to speak of, either. But when
folks are sick, l do try to give them
more time, doing something unusual II
possible.
"Then | do wholesale calling in sum-
mer time. l walk around this block or
that one, and stop for little chats with
families sitting on their porches. One
trip serves to see lot Of friends in
formally. No, these aren't calls, but
they keep US in touch with our neigh
bors and save calls. l just insist on
staying friendly and informal, never
apologzing for not coming otherwise.
I'm fact, dear, wonder If that isn't
the root of the matter? Being CHEEKY
aud unruffled ones self, and showing an
interest in every one and their affairs
wherever and whenever We meet9 1t isn't
what you say SO much as the way you
say it and the way you look at them
when you say it. For whether high or
low 10 the social scale, people crave
sympathetic frendliness. They turn to
smile as our eyes turn to this CRATE fire,
involuntarily, instinctively, hoping fol-
warmth of soul.
1.-The telephone, the gift of a flower,
choice seeds or cuttings, the loan of a
magazine or book, the sidewalk call, the
quick congratulations or words of sym
pathy-all these things help to keep
friends: but after all, dear, nothing
takes the place of the Il like you look
and tone. If you don't forget people,
they won't forget you; and If you show
that you like them, they will think you
the 'loyeliest woman in town."