The Washington herald., 1918-03-23
SOCIAL TYRANNY.

, den by a rug under her desk there Is
an electric button connected with a
buzzer In the next room where her
stenographer sits. When the caller
says too long she presses the button
with her boot and the stenographer
enters and reminds her that she has
an engagement. As a rule the caller
then rises and leaves her free to go
on with her work. But those who
are thoughtless enough 20 stay-and
she says there are many-are present
ly interrupted a second time with a
more insistent demand on the part OF
the stenographer.
! In social life there Is a great deal
OF slavery on account of the failure
Of people 20 know when 20 30. Our
conventions in this matter are very
eaxcting. Few have the courage 10
refuse 20 be bound. who hasn't heard
stories of the agonies endured from
callers that stay on hour after hour.
perhaps late into the night?
'T don't know why IL is that my
wife and I are so fascinating In our
own house" ] recently heard a msn
say. He mentioned the names Of
some people we both knew and he
told how he dreaded their coming OF
an evening. My wife doesn't mind
nearly as much as do,' he said.
Women seem 90 be more tolerant Of
these trials. But every time those
people call on US I know that we
are I'm for a session lasting from
or $50 in the evening till / or 2
o clock. OF course. we are both worn
out long before it's over. / see my
wife turning pale and making a hard
er and harder effort 10 smile. also
see her glsncing at me in a way
that shows she's afraid OF what I
may do. So far l have never broken
out"
What would you do IL you did
break out?" ] asked.
well. don't know what / should
do" he said. after a moments
thought. II suppose I shouldn't have
the nerve to DO anything"
There are those. however, capable
Of defending themselves against this
kind of social rUthlessness. As
rule they have a ruthlessness Of their
own. They carry frankness 70 the
point of brutality. Nearly always
they are persons of some importance
who give less consideration 20 others
than they do TO themselves. I know
a man who walks straight up to vIs-
itors he wants to get rid of. holds out
his hand and says, Well. good-by.
I'm glad TO have seen you. / have
something TO do now" Occasionally
he makes a mistake and uses this
drastic measure with visitors that
merit more consideration. and that
go away painfully embarrassed. some
OF them never TO come back. Natu-
rally among all kinds Of people he
makes a good many enemies. But u
is only fair to say of him that when
he has occasion to take any ones
time he is solicitous not TO take too
much.
The whole subject reduces IT,
self 20 imagination. II We were in
the habit Of considering the point OF
view of another, we should not make
encroachments on consideration and
patience. We should be solicitious
really to please even where the pleas
ing had to express a certain humil-
ity. Above all things We should AVOID
the kind OF tyranny that causes reo-
pie to say when they suspect that
they have stayed too long something
like. Are you tired" or Don't YOU
want me to go?" questions that. n
sincerely answered. would cause great
indignation and that. by being an
swered insincerely. make the social