El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-04-03

not a bit surprised when they are
IL doesn't take a bit longer 10 speak
to a girl behind a counter in a shop
pleasanty-it doesn't interfere with
the efficiency OF her service-and yet
how few OF us are kind enough to
do il?
Sometimes I think that the only
reason that We are not kindly is be-
cause we are afraid Of being sus-
pected OF Interior motives Suspicion
is such an ugly thing and rears Us
head with such omuipresent faithful
ness 10 its cruel course that most o.
US have fallen into the habit Of look
Ing for it everywhere
Surely. il IT, were not for the fear
OF being misunderstood we must be
willing 10 be kind Certainly We
are none OF us so malicious or cOldly
disdainful or serenly proud in our con-
sciOusness Of higher state that we hurt
Wilfuuy or because we are unable TO
put ourselves in the other chaps place.
1t is not possible that we don't know
how TO be kind-so it just must be that
We are afraid 10.
A Pleasant Smile.
4 pleasant smile. a kind word. a
friendly greeting are such simple
trifles. Any OF us is capable Of them.
Any Of US ought TO be willing TO give
them freely. There are pain an s0r-
row enough i'm the world without tax
ing on yourself the esponsibuity of
and afraid OF having your advances
repealed. how about other people,
know a girl whose friends criti-
clsed her because when she came into
a room full OF people she greeted
everybody so pleasantly, and with
such a show OF interest that IL was
hardly possible TO tell which were the
friends she loved, which were mere
acquaintances and which the people
Peonie harmed for so long d, her
over-cOrdial manner that she set
about curing herself OF it, She got
into the way Of inhibiung her friend
~ impulses lest she be misunder-
stood. Fina ~ she swung the pendu-
lum so far I'm the opposite direction
that in her fear Of being thought
gushing she became almost rude.
The next complaint against ner
was that she hadn't pleasant man
uers at ALL for when GOODNESS and
self-consciOusness came TO take the
place OF her naturally warm and cor
dial manner they weren't welcome
Naturally not Even when we sus-
pect people OF shamming a bit we
like them better smiling and amiabIe
than gloomy and sagreeabie.
Sincerity is one OF the big qualities
OF life that should never be lost sight
of. But there is no reason why one
cannot make kindness so much a part
OF his own nature that even TO passing
acquaintances 10 can be at once kind
and sincere
Easy TO Avoid Hurting People.
II takes go little effort to avoid
hurting people. 1t needs merely an
intelligent direction OF your attention
Notice. for instance. if someone
shivers a bit in a draft. and even If
you have a hobby on the subject Of
ventilation don't be so unkind as 10
sit calmly by while another Individual
suffers from the rush of cold air that
pleases you.
Unkindness may be due to sus-
picion. but it IS the twin sister or stu
pidity. OF course, it is very Inefficient
to make enemies Of people who
would be much more useful TO you as
friends And unkindness leaves a
train OF resentment and dislike in its
wake. Unkindness hurts and de-
stroys and breaks down; il accom-
plishes nothing. Kindness. on the
other had. is just as simple to prac-
tice and far pleasanter TO meet with
II generally brings kindness in turn.
For the practice OF IL you have TO
start out with a definite feeling that
YOU are not the only individual in the
world who has rights and desires
Next add an intelligent observation
Of other peoples tastes-of their
strong and weak points. Be generous
enough to give people not the CON
sideration and attention you might