The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1919-09-25
q n q rllu 4 Z I'LL n u Z III u 7.
BE HONEST RATHER
THAN PLEASANT

In form of kindness that Is IN real
ity any thing but kind.
1t is a sort of genial dishonesty
but the fact that it springs from
creditable desire to be kind. does not
make it so.
This unkind kindness lies in tell
ing apleasant untruth rather than an
unpleasant truth. For Instance, the
stenographer brings in a letter that
is not up to the standard. 1t Is
plainly evident that she had hard
time getting it out-and she indicates
that she is more than half aware of
the fact that the letter is not what
it should be when she asks if the
letter is all right.
Instead of replying that the letter
it not all right. that it will not do at
all and must be rewritten, we hesi-
tate to hurt the little lady's feelings
and tell her that we will let it go.
Or a salesman comes in to talk his
goods. We are not interested and
we know we are n0t-but instead of
telling that salesman that we are not
likely to buy of him at any time,
many of US will tell him that there
is nothing doing today
The "today" is meant to take the
sting out of the reply.
The salesman however takes it as
an opening and asks if there may be
something doing some other day.
Eight times out of ten the answer
will be evasive or will take such a
form that the salesman will feel that
he still has a chance.
Now would it not be far more kind
to the salesman to tell him bluntiy
that his prospects are not worth his
considering? This would let him
know exactly where he stood and
would prevent him from wasting his
time and his firms time on prospects
that he cannot possibly sell.
If everybody who had no idea OF
buying, would say so at once, the ef-
feet would be to increase the sales
and earnings of the salesman be-
cause he would concentrate his eff!
forts on real prospects.
In social intercourse the amenities
call for much dissimulation and un-
truthfulness and it is probably i'm
possible to eliminate all of this with
out greatly restricting social activl-
ties.
But the same principle does not
hold true in business or the every
day contracts of life.
An acquianance asks you If you
know of an opening for him. You
have no place for him, you cannot
spend much if any time trying to
place him among your friends, there
is in fact very little or nothing that
you can do for him. Why not say
so? Would it not be kinder than
pretending to be greatly interested
in him and assuring him that you
will do everything you can?
It is not really kind to raise hopes
that are not justified. Almost every
one can be relied upon to indulge in
hopefulness without any assistance.
Very few of US see ourselves or
our situations as they really are.
Yet there is no knowledge that is
more valuable. The greatest kindness
you can give anybody-whether the
person realizes it or not-is to help
him see himself as he is.
Most of us are too ready to agree
simply for the sake of being pleas
ant.
Half the time we could convey the
fact that We have an opinion OF our
own and yet not put the statement
in an unpleasant way When some
body asserts somthing as an uncon-
testable fact and expects your assent,
you don't have to reply bluntly, "In
ny opinion it is no such thing" You
can convey your dissent and indeo
pendence Of opinion just as surely
by a reply such as, maybe your are
right-but I have never been able to
take that view of it
When those around you are care
less, Indifferent, weak, it is real
kindness to call their attention to
the fact. Most people are not con-
scieus of their defciencies-and most
people will make an effort to over
come some of them. 49,.
Most of US go through the. world
along the line of least resistance
We put up with great many things
we don't like rather than run risk