The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
BY DOLLY DALRYMPLE

, people are in their prejudces?' Nancy observed the other day. "rhey are posi- lively determined to hold on to them, in spite of all argument and knowledge
 The Major wasn't sure what she meant by "prejudices."
 If you mean convictions" he was be- ginning to say.
 well, I couldn't exactly call an idea conviction" Nancy retaliated quickly, 'until I knew enough against it to justify me in opposing it with all my heart and mind, would you?"
 He would not, the Major said.
 q hear these people," continued Nancy, "who mount hobby and ride it to death, opposing it without knowing what they are talking about. am thinking of gen. tleman whom met recently"
 And he didn't agree with you in every single blessed thing you said,' suggested the Major satirically.
 Not at all," said Nancy, "but I'll tell you what he did. The very first moment I met him we began to talk about the theatre. I am very, very fond of the theatre, and see nearly everything that comes to the local playhouses each season. He said that there weren't any plays now adays being written that were worth sit 1 ting through. That there hadn't been | a play written in half a century that amounted to a row of pins. He went fur | ther and said there wasn't an actor worthy of the art upon the American | boards today"
 | T stood it as long as I could," continued Nancy, ''and I began to mention some plays I considered worth while. Plays | that had been written within the last It years that were quite worth while. Upon investigation l found he had seen not what plays he had seen that were so poor
 T haven't seen a play in 10 years" the gentleman replied But I know there are no good ones, just the same" 1 If you haven't seen a play in 40 years, ? said Nancy, 'how can you tell whether they are good or bad, and whether the | actors are equal to the occasion?"
 T know it,' he replied, because I see | thelr pictures in the magazines and news papers, and l read all there is 10 read about the playwrights and their work" NenF t9e MaJor lnterrogated.
 That's the average persons prejudice in nutshell" said Nancy. "They know they know, but it's not worth the trouble to them to investigate conditions to see if they REALLY know"
 The Major laughed.
 "lt reminds me-" said he presently, "oi | man l once heard condemning certain | harmless soda water drink that was very popular He held forth on the subject at every possible moment. I thought, per haps, some of his relatives had lost their lives by drinking it. I asked him, finally what it tasted like"
 | "I don't know. Never tasted 1t in my | life," said he, but just from the name | I know it is a nauseous compound that would kill anybody on earth who would drink the stuff.
 And of course, upon Investigation you found the drink to be as harmless as Cas- toria," suggested Nancy, and that 1t was only an ungovernable prejudice with | him."
 T guess you are right young lady" the Major agreed. Its always so when we | allow ourselves to become prejudiced | against anything or anybody that we are | generally unfair in our judgment" | Certainly" returned she. There's al- | ways another side to even the thinnest | board. The broad man is he who looks on BOTH sides before he expresses an opin- l ion."