The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-11-29

would be found to have any bright
side at all? or course in polite con-
versation we do not take this course.
We are prompt to allay. our neighbors'
woe by pointing out to him his own
superiority as a bridge player or an
up-to-date dancer over our own at
tainments in those fields. Blu, he is
no more deceived than ourselves over
the artificial character of the comfort
thus offered
We may as we'll admit that it is a
bit unnatural for people to go out of
their way to demonstrate the existence
of bright side to other peoples
clouds. In real calamities we do IL and
with sincerity But in ordinary trou-
bles we are apt to feel that fate is
only restoring the balance between the
rest of the world and ourselves. Ger
tainly there can be no denying that
our living in glass HOUSES does not
seem to check appreciably our instinct
for throwing stones. A psychologist
might be able to analyze this impulse
Ito attribute part of 1t to an inher-
tied delight in mere destruction. part
to a malicious pleasure to be traced
back to our tlee-dwelling ancestors In
inflicting n5ny upon all and aundry
beyond the shadow of our own bough
and part to lack of diverting matters
| to talk about!
Eut there is one question which
knocks the bottom out of any serious
defense of the practice. Does anyone
like to imagine he is being gosslped
about? Most of us have become suf-
fciently thick skinned to endure a
limited consciousness of such treat
ment with a smile, but that Is a very
different thing from liking it. There
are hosts and hos Ssses who would
., efer that their houses were free of
anything but innocent chat about alb
sent acquaintances but thy are baf-
fled by the problem of conveying this
feeling to their guests. Probably in
tris matter as in many others the most
effective means of bringing about re-
| form is not loud and uncompronmsing
sermons but quiet avoidance OF gossip
oneself.
This need not involve discourtesy
| toward those who do not take the mat
ter SO seriously; one may simply de-
cline to add to the sum of small talk
| tn at centers around the person to whom
| the uncomplimentary attention is be-
| Ing paid. 1t would hurt none OF us to
recall now and then Disraelfs remark
| that ut is much easier TO De critical
| than to be correct
The photographs for today include a
6ebutante of the season and a pretty
visiting girl-Miss Margaret Nottingham
Of Eastville, Va.-whO is the guest of
Miss Hettie Sibley. Miss Nottingham Is
| a cousin of Mrs. Herbert Tutwiler OF
Birmingham, and is a beauty of the rare
type that has made Mrs. Tutwiler SO sin
cerely admired since coming to Birming-
ham.
| Miss Helen Eubank, though she has
had no formal debut party, debut parties
| have not been in vogue in the south this
season--has been one of the most feted
buds Of the autumn, and her first sea-
son may already be pronounced q de-
| cided success This even though, owing
| to her fathers continued poor health.
| the family decided to remain in their
country home instead of taking the apart
ment at Terrace Court, in which 1t was
| expected that Miss Eubank's first year
of young womanhood would be passed.
| Everyone who knows this engaging
young persons family is showering at
| tentions upon her, and not the least OF
her charms is the gracious way In which
! she has accepted the favors shown her by
her parents friends and her own, for
many are former schoolmates, whose
| friendship was cemented while at the
| Margaret Allen school; she was fasci-
1 mating, lovely child, and frequently lit
/ tie parties of debutantes and second sea-
| son girls steal away from the city pave
ments through the little lane that leads
| to the pretty cottage of the Eubanks
| out beyond the Rock House, and beneath
| the shade of the many trees or on the
bank of the pretty branch down in front
| of the house, spend a happy day that
! sends them back home bright-eyed and
with fresh roses in their cheeks
| Miss Eubank IL one of the prettiest
| girls in society; she has light brown hair
I and fresh, lovely complexion. beautiful
brown eyes with long curling isshess and