The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-26
appreciation Versus Criticism
ny FILLEEN EIIzAHETu

An acute observer or life once di-
sided me world into people who are
critical and people who are sppre-
ciattVe
There are those who only see the
weeds IN the garden and those who
only see the flowers, those who are
50 difficult 10 please that the I'M
perfect productions Of An imperfect
world rarely satisfy them. and those
who have the faculty Of being pleas
ed with everything
Two giris, representatives or these
two classes. went for "A holiday to-
gether to country farIn. one com
planned about the thickness Of the
china ana the horse-hair furniture,
while the other was praising the home
made jam and cake.
Even the peace ana freshness
aroRnd uld not make up 10 the tor
n4er fer az aid fashioned feather bed
and somewhat primitive aceommoda-
ton. while the latter was abIe 10 en-
Joy her surroundings in true picnic
fashion
As her IandIady said afterwards,
nothing came wrong to her.. and
7 she WAS one OF those beings born
with the art Of finding joys In such
tr6es that other people might over
look then altogether GA even mistake
them for troubles.
one woman know, who lives In a
quiet. provincial place. recently de
clined to go to production Of
famous orr torio by q very talented
local orchestra. excusfnE herself on
the ground that she had once heard
Il rendered So perfectly in town that
SIN t.A4tf1 Ult endure a MT r4f ri T.
tempt
Some people cannot see "A lovely
face without noting some faAiI in 10.
It is almost pathetic. when one CON
siders how much delight they lose
through the flaws being more con-
spfcuous to them than the cha rms
Unhappily. this disposition does not
only injure It's possessor bat is very
infectious. and few OF us after hear
ing something severely criticised per
hap. laughed at, have the indepen-
dence Of mind TO look upon It with
the same eyes as before
My little friend Kitty went with
an artistic, hypercritical lady to see
n famous picture which had hither-
70 received her warmest admiration
Its very fine. remarked the
critic looking calmly nj the bending
figure depicted, but don't you notice
that the neck and hands are in a
straight line2'
Ever since Kitty has seen this de-
feet when size has looked a the pie
ture. aUd it's charm is to her married !
forever.
1t needs much strength OF mind to /
Withstand successfully the ridicue !
and contempt OF a friend when IL Is I
levelled AZ ones favorite hook. ones /
pet poet. or any other god of ones !
idolatry
1t is q positive affIiction to go 10 /
the theatre with critical companion.
IN the interval after the most thrilling /
love scene, she viii whisper. did YOU
notice how Miss r 1.-THE leading ac- /
tresst waddled across the stage like
q duck I'm pettteeats2 wish Mr.. C. /
wouldn't mouth his words so~-it is
simply unbearabIei"
Unfortunately the critical tendency
extends to the affections The critic
is never satisfied ana Is always dis
covering faults.
4 must have perfection" cries Lady
Disdain, with a Tilt Of her delicate IT.
tie nose.
Put. my dear Lady Disdain. are you
perfection yourself TO demand perfec-
lion elsewhere -
In order TO be appreciative, It Is
only necessary 10. love life. to love
with a love strong and deep
enough TO see hea1ties before faults. E
This love OF life for it's own sake Is
he spring OF true happiness, because
hen one does not look upon II with
he hostile censorious eyes Of sian
ger. but with the lenient tolerant eyes
# friend My readers should eubi-
ate ths love or life and Of their
lind, and not De Included among those
miserable beings who magnify everv i
flemish IN their surroundings and are
upset by the Deficiencies !
+ their acanaintances
Hanpy all they who see the wide |