The Washington herald., 1913-11-15

When the sun shines and there is never
a ripple of trouble on the clear horizon, it
| is charming indeed TO meet the fascinat-
| ing men and women who always say
and do the gracious things, that do not
mean very much but add to the pleasure
| OF living.
And we wish that some Of their polish
might be passed along to the brusque
souls who sit back in the shadows, total
| " untutored in the genial winning ways
that are such splendid assets in the max
ing and often in the keeping OF friends.
But sometimes the sun has a way Of
keeping in hiding and troubles crowd
thick and fast. and thea it is not polish
that is needed so much as genuine worth
Often Lack NIeeties.
And il often happens ttat the men and
| women who have the most sterling quail
titles, the ones to whom We can pin our
| faith when things go wrong because We
know they are certain to stand by in all
kinds of weather, lack the little niceties
that make for popularity.
But as life goes along and we get
taste OF the storms, conviction becomes
stronger and stronger that, If We must,
We can dispense with some of the charm
IL only there is something sturdy and de-
pendable under the surface. The rough
edges are sharp and nobody likes them
come, the thing that counts the most is
the certainty that back of the sharpness
and the occasional roughness stands the
fealty that is true-blue, no matter what
the weather.
Nature Divides Graces.
Nature does not give all her greces to
the Very same folk and in withholding
the things that make for personal charm
she denies rather much, but IL she supple
ments that lack with the somewhat rare
gift Of sincerity she is pretty lavish, after
all.
For when the time comes, as IL often
does, that We learn that the gracious
manner the cordial ways, and the deli
cately hattering words are only fair
weather signs to drop away when real
activities begin, and that down below
where the real self lives are vaciliating
qualities upon which there Is no reliance
at all-then we are glsd indeed to turn
where the polish and grace may be miss |
ing, but where we are always sure of |
our ground.
That sorry old teacher. experience,
shows us a great many things as life |
slips by. and sometimes its lessons are |
costly; but II is worth a goodly price to |
learn the real value Of sturdiness, wheth- |
rlthe setting is rough or not.
Because-oh. 1t covers so much!
Things Worth while.
1t means that If among friends, home
folk, and those we meet in the outside |
ways. there is one. or happily more.
found faithful and true, all that Is
worthy Of trusting. clouds may roll up
darkly enough, and things may seem to
be going against them. but never a doubt
creeps in, because-we know them.
And II seems that of all the fine things
oF nd 90 ~
able to say II truthfully. nothing Is finer
or more comprehensive than a proud tes-
timonial to the qualities that make for i
confidence. And this we know: Once L
bound to folk OF that unwavering sort. /
once having sounded their sturdy depths.
the years and the fortunes that come with
the years only serve to bring them the
closer
Because in the real issues Of life, the
issues that have nothing to do with
pleasures and concern only the hard
ships, the greatest call 10 for some one
whom we can trust, with a trust that
knows no weakening. whatever tho test
may be.
Remain in background.
There are such folk. and the pity OF It
Is that often they remain In the lack
ground, quite overshadowed by the ex-
luisite art and delightful personality of .
those who radiate brightness only when !
he sun is shining.
And perhaps the worst pity Is that they
,annot be shown the way to brush aside .
some OF the brusqueness that KEEPS the I
pure gold from shining through Be-
,ause many q time, In the mad scramble
or success of one kind and another. they
ire overtaken and passed by those who !
ire not worthy SO much as to tie their .
yahen- Il comes to the real !
question OF seuBdHess, IL
But maybe what they lose in the great
auriy-buFiy werld they and in the heart