Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-01-27
Persons Like Flattery


NE reason there is such an cutlery against hatrers is probably be-
cause there Ire SO few good ones, H. a has been said, "hat@ry is the
incest art in the world"
Fattery is certainly, in its best estate tn most subtle of arts, requiring
knowledge Of human nature, a delicate discrimination n a refined fashion
Of administration. For a gross hatterer who lays 1T n thick" nauseates
the object OF his dulaton by administering a N overdose,
The avidity with which the average human being listens to hattery is
at once amusing and perplexing. Perplextng because those h are shrewd
the hauerer, who is quick enough to esy their vulnerable point; amusing
because while the bystander recognizes the hattery as such, the recipient
swallows it a a tribute paid by the discriminating to his actual merits Here
is a personw with a gift of recognizing the M uan Of his character; a
apprciative person who cal convey his appreciation in a pleasing fash
ion So the hatterer who knows hs-or her-busnes is received into favor
and generally acquires a good deal of influence we the individual whose
dissatisfaction he-or she-has elected to foster.
The acceptable haterer is he-or she-who never ontradic but dders
to the others superior knowledge Or insight This Difference is especially
ance-or more rarely, who know they are ignorant but think that
they are successfully concealng the fact Few a resist this
form of hatery The fauerer is too adrot to commend in
bold, bald terms; he-or she-works in a fan more subtle fashion. The ndi
vtdual likes whatever you do or say; listens atenuvey to your utterances;
never ventures upon criticism; finds ready excuses for your faults or short
oonings; refuses to listen to your sci Interpretations; in short, presents you
of US are able to resist, since most of us are perfectly willing to accept a n
over-valuaton Of IN property We possess. including ourselves.
will swallow it in doses Of any SIZE the fatterer feels desirable On some
this never seems to pail. Others with more experience Of life. must
be treated by more refined methods A pleasing Difference a taeit assumption
that the person to be fattered is their superior, seldom fails o making al
impression Is to the hathers sagactty and ability to reaIze real merit when
There re individuals who choose their everyday companions from
among hos whom they regar as their interiors, either in money OF social
position. When they are snubbed, or annoyed, O. disappointed. these hum
bier ones apply a soothing lotion compounded of hattery and adulaton to
ably has, a Boswell of greater or les Boswelian proportions. Such a per-
son is IS comfortable as the scapegoat that bore their sins into the will
derness as o the children of Israel Are W never, then. to raise a friend,
or show our appreciation OF fine qualities of character, lest we be suspected
of hattny? BY 10 means. Sincerity diferentiates praise and hatery. Flat
implies u certain subservience, a sycophancy, which does no obtain In
honest praise. With me W z. try to ngratate ourselves for u own purpose;
with the other re try to convey our recognition OF the sterling worth of a
friend.
Let is praise often; but natter never