Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-28
Rejoice Over Successes of Your Friends
Rv ELLA WHEELER WILCOX.
Copyright, 1913, by Star Company

W YHEN we are very young, and
w life is all before US, with its
infinite possibilities, We are
quick TO applaud another's success; to
praise another's achievements, and TO
feel pleasure in another's joys.
Our own lives are filled with hopes
and we anticipate a time when we, too,
may be the recipients Of congratula-
lions.
The performances Of Others, stir us
to new action and the great world
seems an arena wherein we may figure
as central objects of public observa-
ton and applause.
AS we grow older. many, If not most
of US, lose this ready impulse Of ap-
probation.
We become more critical: less re
sponsive, less cordial with our words
of praise, and there are many men and
women, who develop the disagreeable
propensity to belittle and disparage all
the attachments or achievements of
others. as they advance along the road
which leads from middle age toward
old age.
Perhaps because they have not sue.
ceeded in their chosen aims; perhaps
because they have succeeded and found
their goals but a mirage when they
approached them; perhaps. and far
more probable, because they allowed
petty Jealousy. and ugly envy to crop
up in the soil of their minds and
crowd out tender sympathy and beau
tifuI generosity.
Most women. whether they confess
it or otherwise, are eager to know all
secrets which can bestow upon them
beauty and charm with the passing Of
years.
No woman lives. who does not regret
the loss of her personal attraction.
The Enemies to Charm.
Thousands there are. who will suffer
pain, deny themselves nourishment,
and practice any difficult and weari-
some exercises, which are supposed TO
preserve or restore beauty.
Yet not infrequently, these same
women are allowing jealousy, and en-
Wy, and back biting, and ill-will, and
ungenerous impulses, to dominate their
hearts; unconscious that such emo
tions are malignant enemies to charm.
All the beauty treatments and health
exercises ever given can not keep or
make a woman interesting or attract
I've in her maturity unless she has
mind which is broad enough to go out
In Joy and gladness, when another has
attained and desired goal, and to go
out in tender understanding and sweet
sympathy, when another has missed a
cherished aim.
There have been known women who
were neighborhood gossips and mis-
chief makers and tale bearers, and who
were always at swords points with
their neighbors until those neighbors
fell i'll or some trouble entered the
household. Then Madam Mischief
Maker flew to the door with appetiziag
| food for the suffered; offers Of assist
ance to the anxious relatives, and words
of kindness and sympathy flowed from
| her heart and lips.
She was really sorry for her neigh
bors in trouble.
And so long as they remained In
trouble they could depend upon her
reliable regard.
But the moment they grew well, pros
porous and successful, she became the
lying, malicious husybody again.
And what she could do to make them
unhappy in the midst Of their pleasures
/ she did with a vengeance.
Sense of Superiority.
Such women are not uncommon. They
exist in every community. And the
same type of man exists, only in small
er numbers.
Because men are so busy with big
open faults and vices, they have not the
| time to develop the petty small vices
and WEAKNESSES of women.
| 1t is only here and there In neigh
/ borhood, or in a circle of acquaintance
| that one is found who is just as spon-
| taneous and big in his feeling of joy at
| his friends triumphs as he is with his
mess ges of sympathy In hours of trou-
| BILE.
1t gives many people sense Of SUI
periority to be in a position to act as a
| bestower OF some kind of charity
whether of mental, spiritual or mate
| rial expressions OF kindness.
If you find yourself lacking in spon-
| taneous cordiality and inclined toward