The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-07-13

world IN smiling state. Wnen we are
grouchy the world is bad place to
live in. Children are more spontane-
GUS and likely to express their feel
ings and sentiments, yet there are
some who do not believe in first i'm
pressions. Children instinctively
shrink from cruel and deceptive folks;
dogs and young folks are fair judges
of humanity.
A great many of our troubles are
the results of our own mental state
and the knowledge of our own worth.
We cast our ideas, project our feeling
ahead of ourselves and prepare the
other person, not for what we say, but
for the way we feel The other per-
son is often but mirror Of our true
selves If we 60 into place expect
ing to be lily treated we will not be
disappointed. If we are doubtful about
our proposition we are likely to find
the listener skeptical. If we expect
that every one is thinking of US in
terms of color we are likely to find
them doing so.
The real facts are that much of
prejudice is kept in thought and ac-
ton by our thinking in these terms.
The less we remember differences the
more likely we are to have exhibit
tions of differences shown to US.
Whether we are opponents of any
Of these esoteric religions, or not,
there are many practical points in liv-
ing for us to get from them. 1t should
matter little to us from whence these
truths come so long as they help US
live and act better. AS purely
metaphysical proposition, we must
admit that the more of love, kindness,
good will and harmony we. send from
us the more there is in the world, con-
sequently the more people are going
to be affected. We must think less in
terms of color and of discrimination
than we do in terms of world values
and equality. There is subtle psy-
Geological truth abroad in the land
that if we are made to think in circles
of selfshness we will be untitled to
think in straight lines and reach logi-
cal and broad conclusions. We must
be careful of our aura lest the other
fellow see US better than we can ex-
press ourselves.
There is a certain nobility in being
imposed upon if this imposition is
borne with dignity and patience. To
be resentful and made sullen is to lose
the soul quality and fail to have the
proper reaction on the other person.
There are certain gifts in the lap of
the gods which we may not be for
Gunate in sharing, but we can come up
to every measure of requirement,
thereby putting the burden of proof
and the dishonor on the other fellow.
Finer qualities are never without re-
course and reward. The reward may
Zoe simply the acquisition of fine
soul, the recourse may be the with
drawal from the field of coarse ma
lures, but fine people are less con-
cerned about practices and apparent
victories than they are about princi-
Piles and the business Of the cause. If
your cause be just and your contention
unselfsh you have won your victory
regardless of the coarse or inconsid
crate judge or audience. Sooner or
later the facts soak in and you have
won.
This aura is thing we must be
careful Of; we must be sure that we
do not give advance notice of our real
feelings and embarrassment when it
will work to our own defeat of pur-
pose We must think less of color and
more of the big things of the world.
We must expect more than we mental
ly rule ourselves out Of. A fnesse of
approach and gentle demeanor will
often gain more for us than great ar
gument. Our own mental attitude is
often the greatest weapon of disad-
vantage we carry about with us. In
matters of social contact the right |
poise will carry, by doctrine of nom
resistance, further than harsh words
and stubborn manner. The con-
quests which are won by kindness and
worth are greater and more lasting
than those which come by force and