The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-08-03
By.iRurH CAMERON
THOUGHT sgLFlsHaEss.

. - Il e
Saen We speak .ioi, seltlshness, We
re apt toahihk first of seliIshncss
about material things, but the more !
study human. nature, the more | be
Come Convinced that this Is the ieas
common and the least harmful kint
Of sellshpesS. There are SO many
other-kinds OF seltishness that spot
more happiness than this variety.
For instance. who is the seliishness
OF the peron who Is never amiable
unless he holds the center OF the
stage; the selfishness of the person
who Is generous enough about mate
rial things, but Unfortunately greedy
about having his own way; the self
ishness of the person who allows q
tendency, such as a habit OF worry.
ing. to spoil half the family happi
ness; and then there Is thought.sell
ishness.
1t was that last variety that started
me philosophIzlng on this subject. By
Observation-Disclosures, | mean the habf;
of being unsenerous with one'i
thoughts,
! know man who has very interest
Ing thoughts. He has d keen sense o.
humor, an unusual fund OF inIorma'
ton and habit OF observation.
When he sees Tito taik-really talk
! mean, not Just say the absolutely
necessary th!ngs--he almost alwayg
has something interesting to say. But
unless he is in very gracious mood.
he will often sit perfectly silent. ig
noring the conversation, and thinking
his own interesting thoughts to him
self.
Now, believe that that man is self
ish when he does this. He owes the
world the benefit OF his intelligence.
and he is just as stingy and misery
when he sits there boarding his
thoughts as the mIser counting his
gold, 't '2' y
This man Is an exaggerated exam.
pie Of this type, but know a great
MANY men and women who are
thought.seifish in one way or ano: her.
There is the man who eats his break
fast in stolid silence broken only b,
occasional REQUESTS Tor more food
His wife tries TO draw him out bnii
he is absorbed. in his own thoughts.
There are many things which hi
might say that would give her some.
thing 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
interesting day at school or WORK
with half a dozen things in his or her,
mind that would interest. or divert
the honse-bound mother, and yet docs
net take the trouble. to tell them TO
her.
The man who, does not credit other
people with sence OF humor, and SO
smiles to himself when anything
amuses him, is another member OF
this species. No one has right to
keep ANYTHING clearly amusing te
himself. Pass 1t on. The. poor old
earth must borrow lis mirth," you
know. II you have any to lend, do not
be misery with IT,
The man who reads the morning
paper nnI does moi pnss on the bits
OF news that he thinks would be in.
tercstinS to his family. certainly is
thcnsht-sGlflsh, and also the person
who gets letter and does not com.
municate those parts Of 1t which are
communicable and Of general inter
est. '4
'Uncommunicativc people are often
praised ahd admired. To be sure, the
person who chatters continually about
nothing is bore; hut the person wha
has something to chatter about and
doesn't chatter, Is also n bore: and
what is more than that he Is selfish.
Dent YOU think so? '
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