Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-24
Criticising Other Peoples
Happiness.
By Ruth Cameron.

/ Gone mans meat is another man
poison' does not sound like very I'M
portant proverb, but | often wish most
| heartily that more of us could get the
| ejst Of it into our attitude toward lie.
For there are a great many people IN
the world who continually disturb the"
selves because other people VIII not ma
happiness in just the way they do APP
narentlv such people would rather see
their friends poisoned by that which Is
meat to themselves than fed by that
which happens to be their poison.
One woman in my acquaintance never
fails to introduce into every talk | have
with her a petulant criticism of the way
in which one OF her girlhood friends hnds
happiness: Il really don't see how Janet
can be happy way out in the country out
Of touch with everything is the burden
of her plant; II think it is outrageous
for her to bury herself like that.
Now Janet is fond Of country life and
is undoubtedly very happy, and yet | do
not doubt that If her critic had the ORDER
ing of things she would force the city
life. which is meat to herself upon her
friend to whom it would probably be
poison.
One girl cannot understand how another
girl is willing to wear cheap and unat-
| tractive clothes and go without all the
| little day to day luxuries for the sake OF
| taking some expensive trip once a year;
and the criticised one in her turn com.
plains because her critic spends most or
| her salary on pretty clothes and lesser
| Injuries and can never afford to indulge
| in travel.
Again, Mrs. r. is always telling any one
who will listen how foolish it is for the
SIS to keep a maid when it is evident by
| the simplicity of their clothes and their
general manner of living that they can
| not afford it. AS a matter of actual fact,
the services of a maid are necessary to
| the continued life and health of the little
house mother and consequently the fami-
| ly consider the money we'll spent, even II
| it does neceSSltate ScrlmplnS In some
other directions.
| AS it happens, the SIS are not the kind
! of people who are fretted when they see
| other folks finding happiness in some
| direction other than their OWE. and SO
| they do not return the criticism, but there
| are people who frequently declare that
| they cannot see how the r. s can be hap
Ply in such a cooped-up apartment, even
II it Is in the most fashionable part of
| the city.
Love affairs always bring forth a per-
/ feet deluse of such criticism We cannot
| understand what she sees in him; or. II
| he happens to suit us, We cannot make
out how he should be satisfied with her.
1 Anu 81 IL soeS-We tillIol pe CoiteIll "
| want what want and try to get it; We
also want every one else to want it and
| think they are in some way lacking If
| they do not.
And yet, stop to think a moment. If
you could, would YOU have things differ
| ent? Would you want every one to think
alike? Wouldn't that soon become mo-
notonous? OF course 1t would And in
convenient into the bargain. when the
law Of supply and demand began to work.
Suppose you remember this the next time
you feel inclined to criticse your neigh
boris way of being happy. and try to be
content with choosing your own happi-
ness.