The Washington herald., 1918-03-30

A good many years ago used to 60
into a place of business where there
were a large humber Of clerks. One
OF them. a young woman. made
friends Of customers by her agreeable
ways. As q result, she secured a large
patronage for that store and she mus,
shave been regarded as particularly
valuable among the clerks and she
was probably paid accordingly.
Some years later happened TO pass
her on the street One glance at heI
face showed that she was no longei
the same person. Instead Of the
cheerful expression there was a look
Of ill-humor and arrogance.
Il wondered what has happened tc
her." thought.
Not long afterward ! met a man
that happened TO know her, as j dis
covered by a chance remark made.
asked him IL she were still in her old
position.
"oh, no." he said. "she left there
long ago. She married one OF the
customers, some fellow with a lot OF
money. She's become a snob. You'O
hardly know her for the same
woman"
She was evidently one Of those peo-
pie at their best under certain kinds
OF restraint
A great deal has been said about
competitive business and its bad effect
on character. And most OF it has
been true. Men naturally huIPane can
be made TO act in ways that seem
heartless. Men with a tendency to 5e
mean can become despicable.
But competitive business can operate
in exactly the opposite way by max
ing people control their weakness and
faults in order to secure good results
or merely TO keep their jobs.
There are many who, in business,
practice courtesy, promptness and or
der. who. IL they dared. would be dis
orderly and lax and discourteous.
Now and then people OF this kind
will be heard breaking out bitterly
against those they have to serve and
consider and whose eXactions they
have 10 endure.
As a rule there is some excuse for
their resentment. But 1t nearly also
shows that way down deep they are
themselves ill-natured. By rebelliously
going through the mere form OF con-
sideration they miss the best lesson
of the discipline. And some OF them
make those at their mercy their
equals or interiors. perhaps members
of their families. pay dear for the
restraint they exercise.
An American once told me that he
actually suffered during some time
he had been spending in Europe by
observIng the servility OF the servants.
why, most OF them would thank
you IL you kicked them in the shins!
he exclaimed.
So they would. And servility in gen
eraI has very unattractive aspects.
But the Difference of those servants
has aspects that are attractive. too,
that express qualities We all admire.
self-restraint. consideration for others,
mild speaking, self-forgetfulness. quai-
tiles that, in all circumstances Of life,
can be consistently maintained only
by the possession Of heroic virtues.
Those European servants often
maintain happy relations by means OF
their deferentfal attitude. They per-
form the miracles Of nonreEistanCe.
Some OF them. observing the compn-
Gated and feverish and disappointed
and Querelous lives OF their sUperiors,
are content. even glad. to be just what
they are. They wouldn't change II
they could
And yet even among those content
ed ones there are undoubtedly those
who. when they function among their
equals. lead lives Just as complicated
as the lives OF their superiors. max
ing blunders very similar in kind and
leading to the same bitter conse-
QuenCes.
To he successful among ones equals
is the test Of character. And the acid
test is to be successful among one s
intimates when there are no external
restraints.
inequality easily establishes good re-
lations by means OF the penalties that