The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-04
Euening Chat

BY RUTH CAMERON.

81 don't see any sense in arguing,
some one said to me the, other day,
because no one ever convinces any
body else"
Personally, I am a great believer in
the value of arguing. 1t is to the
mind what exercise is to the body.
Nevertheless, l can understand her
feelings, because there are so many
arguments in which there isn't the
slightest chance of anybody convinc-
ing any one else.
1t is perfectly useless for two peo-
pie to argue when they have entirely
different Ideals, and ideals are the
tombstone by which the matter OF ar
gument must be tried. For instance,
suppose two people are arguing as to
the ACCESSIBILITY of legislation which
restricts certain personal rights of all
for the sake of those who have not
enough self-control and education to
use those rights wisely. If one party
to the argument has as his ideal of
right conduct the bettcrment and adj
vancement of the whole human race
and the other party has nc such IDEAL
what is the use of their arguing? All
their premises must be different and
no amount of argument can bring
them to the same conclusion. Two
parallel lines will never meet and two
lines of argument will never meet if
they start from different premises.
Again, there is no use arguing mat
tiers of opinion, as. for instance,
whether face is pretty or not. Beau
ty lies half in the eye that sees it and
no amount of words can alter an
opinion which is founded on feelings
rather than facts.
Arguments in which the two par
ties are using the terms which are the
cruX of the discussion in a different
sense are absolutely futile. Many an
argument will vanish into thin air if
the arguers will stop and define the
terms they are using.
Another futility in argument is to
lose sight of the point at issue. In
nine arguments out of ten, this hap
pens, and neither can gain upon the
other, because the point of attack is
constantly shifted. Stop and restate
what you are trying to prove every
few minutes, if you want to get any
where in an argument.
Don't raise your voice or lose your
| temper in an argument.
Don't forget what you are arguing
about.
Define your terms before starting.
When your opponent makes state
ment that sounds well, but that you
feel has a flaw in it, don't hurry to
answer. Think it over and find the
flaw. This will help you to detect
sophistry everywhere.
Don't argue on matters of opinion.
L
into makeshift phrases like You
know what I mean" Try to express
yourself concisely, definitely and in
good English.
Don't argue for the sake of hearing
yourself talk and proving how smart
you are. Argue to defend a we'll
founded conviction and to thresh out
the truth.
Conducted on these lines, an argu-
ment is an excellent thing for young
or old, and will keep any mind from
getting fat and inactive.
WITH MY LETTER FRIENDS.
Question: letter friend asked me
| to tell ''how a man-and there are
thousands of him--can best live and
keep a family of six or seven on nine
dollars a week? 1 put the question up
to my reader friends. Here is one
pertinent answer.
Answer-If the six or seven COM
prise a few adults Sisters or aunts
they should help in the earning If
1 they are all children. a man with such
a salary should not have so many chill
dren--( Protected by the Adams
' Newspaper Service