The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-08-16
LIFE IS SHORT AT MOST
Laugh and the World Laughs With You, Weep and
You Weep Alone
Ru Mr.
Bv Mr.. J. L. w.


that is perfectly transparent that
conceals no guile, covers no malice.
while there is nothing else that
will freeze a person so quickly as
an icy, formal suspicious manner.
There are many of us who have
met with a cold, repellant person
ality; when it has been positively
depressing to be near such an one
even without speaking. For his
whole manner forbade one to look
at him.
On the other hand l have been
with foreigners who could not
speak word of our language, and
yet their cordial, gracious salute
as l approached them warmed me
for the rest of the day. Their
manner spoke a language all nation
alties understand. It was a lam
guage of brotherhood good will
toward man.
While travelling from Valparaiso,
to Buenos Aires on a warm day
some time ago, there was a young
South-American on the train who
seemed to get acquainted with his
fellow travellers without effort, and
who made the hot, dry, dusty and
otherwise dreary trip a real pleas
ure because of his spiritual grace
and sunshine. His face was so ra-
diant and he was so full of animal
spirits and simple, kindly, good
nature that it did one good to look
at him. He seemed eager to give
himself out, to help every one, and
to tell all he knew about the coun-
try through which we were pass
iHg. That young mans cheerful
ness and cordial manner will win
him welcome wherever he goes.
In some sections of that country,
especially where the climate is Sc
we're, the soil poor and the condi-
tions hard, the people seem to par
take of the nature of their environ
ment. They act as if they were
afraid that they might cast their
pearls before swine. They are not
quite sure that they want to make
friends with the people they meet;
there is a cold reserve, hesitancy
in giving the hand, in opening the
heart. They feel that they must
take every step with the greatest
caution; that they must investigate
ones character, ones standing, be-
fore they dare give themselves
out without reserve: that they
must not be too generous with
their cordiality, or it may cost
them dear later.
Contrast this stinginess of gener-
osity, this lack of brotherly feel
ing with the cordial, whole-hearted
manner of those from more genial,
hospitable environments. A typi-
cal Southerner or Westerner will
grasp your hand upon first intro
duction as warmly as though be
had known you for years. He
gives you his heart, his confidence,
with his hand. There is no stingy,
suspicious reserve, no narrow crit.
ical scrutiny of your person lest he
make a mistake, or say something
or make some friendly advance
which he will regret later. He
just gives himself to you generous.
ly, broadly; gives you his best
wishes, and makes you feel al
, home and as if you had met q
; brother.
, Some people have faculty fol
, touching the wrong keys; from the
, finest instrument they extract only
/ discord! All their songs are in q
minor key. The chilling shadows
, predominant in all their overtures.
Their outlook is always gloomy
J times are always hard" and, as
usual, money is tight Every.
thing in them seems to be contract
ing, nothing expanding or growing
J in their lives.
J With others it is just the reverse