The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-03
EVENING CHIT
Thought SeIfshness
BIZ RUTH CAKNRON.

When we speak of selfshness, we
are apt to think first of seIfishn ass
about material things but the more L
study human nature, the more I be-
come convinced that this is the least
common and the least harmful kind
of self1shness. There are so many 9TH
er kinds of selfshness that spoil more
happiness than this variety For in
stance, there is the selfishness of the
person who is never an1iabIe unless he
holds the center of the stage; the sell
hShness of the person who is generous
enough about material things, but in
ordinately greedy about having his
own way; the SelfishneSS of the person
who allows tendency, such as a habit
of worrying, to spoil half the family
happiness; and then there is thought
Selfishness.
It was the last variety that started
me philosophizing on this subject By
thought selfshness, L mean the hab-
it of being ungenerous with ones
thoughts.
know a man who has very interest
ing thoughts. He has a keen sense
Of humor, an unusual fund of informa-
ton and habit of observation. When
he sees fit to talk-really talk, 1 mean,
not just say the absolutely necessary
things-he almost always has some
thing interesting to say. But unless he
is in a very gracious mood, he will of
ten sit perfectly silent, ignoring the
conversation, and thinking his own In
Now 1 believe that that man is sell
fish when he does this. He owes the
world the benefit of his intelligence,
and he is just as stfngy and misery
when he sits there boarding his
thoughts as the miser counting lis
gold.
This man is an exaggerated example
of this type, Lut 1 know a great many
men and women who are thought sell
fish in one way or another. There is
the man who eats his breakfast in
stolid silence broken only by OCCASION
al requests for more food. His wife
tries to draw him out but he is alb
sorbed in his own thoughts. There
are many things which he might say
that would give her something to think
about during the day. but he is simply
too lazy to put his thoughts into
words.
Then there is the son or daughter
who comes home at night from an IN
teresting day at school or work, with
half a dozen things in his or her mind
that would interest or divert the house
bound mother and yet does not take
the trouble to tell them to her.
The man who does not credit 9TH
er people with sense Of humor, ana
so smiles to himself when anything
amuses him, is another member of this
species. No one has a right to keep
anything clearly amusing to himself:
Pass it on 1.-THE poor old earth must
borrow its mirth," you know If you
have any to lend, do not be misery
with it.
The man who reads the morning pa
per and does not pass on the bits OF
ifews that he thinks would be inter
esting to his family, certainly IS
thought selfish. and also the person
who gets a letter and does not COM
municate those parts of it which are
Communicable and of general interest
T-ncommunicative people are often
nraised and admired. To be sure, the
person who chatters continually about
nothing is a bore: but the person who
has something to chatter ABOUT ana
sesr,'+ chatter is also a bore; and
what is more than that he is selfish.
Do,,t x-o1, think so?