Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-23

Come people are chronically afflicted
with the blues. They go around with a
hang-dog expression on their faces that
Is peculiarly dlsooncerting to every other
person with whom they come in contact.
The odd thing. too, is that these pessi-
nnieEs Eiray in their woel Not for them
the lighter and the joyous side of lifel
No. indeed They feel that an all-wise
Providence has specially chosen them and
set them apart as children of sorrow. At
the same time, they have a real glow of
pride in the fact that they, and they
alone, have been so chosen.
Human nature is curious thing and
It's rnainsprings Of action are quite un-.
accountable. The man or woman who is
never SO happy as when unutterably mis-
erabie is a person met with all too fire.
auently, Irish as the description may
sound
The immortal Mrs. Gummdge, that
Tone, lorn woman" of David Copper
field" fame, has her replica in many mod
ern women today Mrs. Gummidge would
turn on the watertaps of woe upon the
very slightest announcement, until the
very heavens wept, too. in sympathy. Yet
she had happy home and nothing to
worry her. Her depression was curious,
and It's handspring unaccountable, since
II was founded in lamentations for long
since departed spouse who had always ILL
treated her. in life, and whom she had
always cordially disliked.
His demise, however, no matter how
many years ago it had occurred, offered
q reason for her tears, and trfbulation
What booted 1t that she was infinitely
happier without him, and that many
many years had dimmed the welcome
parting7 She had an excuse, though
very thin one, for being Sin the blues
30 blue she was from morning to night.
But the tale OF Mrs. Gummidge has It's
pointers, too. For when a real sorrow
came to the family, she threw off her
pessimism and became the brightest and
most useful member therein; in fact, a
veritable sunbeam
And this serves to show that much of
the pessimism and the "blueness" that
one meets can be entirely overcome. For
determination to look only on the
bright side of life will work wonders,
Only the other day I met a young mar
ried woman who was literally beaming
with the joy Of life. You do look happy"
/ said. what piece OF good fortune have
you Just fallen heir to?''
She laughed happily. 1--WE been re-
1ha oil
know. used to be a sort Of chronic wet
blanket 1t wasn't entirely my own fault,
for last fall I had rather bad illness,
and suppose that left me rather weak
and nervous. Anyhow. was melan-
oHsoly person, who couldn't see any joy in
life at all.
..It was dreadfully hard on Tom. You
know how bright and lively he isl Well.
I wouldn't go anywhere with him, be-
cause I imagined that my nerves
wouldn't stand it. preferred to NOPE
at home.
"Tom was perfect angel. He'd stay |
home with me. and do everything to
cheer me up But It was no uso ut all
I was always in the blues and I would |
make no effort at an to meet him half
way and brighten up bit.
..Aftsr time, noticed that Tom was
always working late at the office. I
seemed to see less and less of him. This
added another reason to my depression.
I imagined myself thoroughly ill-used
wife.
''one day poured the whole tale into
the cara OF great friend of mine, very
sensible. well-balanoed. normal sort of
woman. was certain that she would
sympathize with me, for she was one of
the kindest persons have ever known
but she did nothing Of the sort. My
dear GIRL said she. I'm 80 glad that
you have mentioned this, for I've been
longing for long time 10 give you a
good shaking! You are acting just the |
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