Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-10-01
LUe's Problems
Are Discussed
By MRS. WILSON WOODROW

spend a lot of time and energy in
fitting at windmills.
There is nothing whatever the
matter with the windmilis. They
are perfectly good, steady-g going use
full features of the landscape; but
we imagine them to be something
else.
To our alarmed eyes they appear
to be terrible obstacles to our prog
ress. and we rush against them full
tilt, thereby doing no harm to any
one but ourselves.
Here is letter from a girl who
is fighting against what seems to
her an impossible strong windmill.
Dear Mrs. Woodrow: Here is a
pretty hopeless case. Me ego
tistic, selfish. disagreeable. mean lit
tie me! And 1 have quick, hasty
temper, too. So l am writing you,
who solve so many problems, to ask
If there is any hope.
What is a girl with so horrid >
nature to do? I've tried ever so
many times, and I've resolved time
and again to refrain from hurting
those who love me; but I'm hor-
rid-that's just it, and L don't seem
able to change.
"Older people say 1 am spoiled.
Maybe I am, but really 1 don't
like to be. l would much rather
say nice things, but the sarcastic,
cutting ones always come to my lips,
and when L lose my temper l don't
know what l am saying.
Now admit it; am l not hope
less? Or will you encourage me
by saying that perhaps 1 am not
all sour, and that there is vest
ige of sugar left in my composition
Or, still better, you may be able to
suggest some magic that will work
desired change.
II know this sounds like lot of
nonsense, but the idea of being so
disagreeable to others as well as
Wont you please write an article
telling how to conquer the bad
traits in ones character? 1 am
sure it will be appreciated by many"
Dear girl, | am at present out OF
my stock of magic, and all l can
offer you is u little commonsense OF
the plain everyday variety, but war
ranted to wear better than magic.
Instead of nursing and coddlins
those faults of yours and watching
them continually to see how fast
they grow, suppose you treat them TO
a little wholesome neglect. The
minute you begin to watch yourself
and try your best to curb your cut
ting remarks, you will hear yourself
uttering a stream of them. Don
take them so seriously.
Take your attention off them for
a season and consider instead their
very nice reverse sides.
The reverse side of sarcasm is wit
and nimbleness of mind. The re-
verse side of a quick temper is
often generosity and that valuable
quality known as pep" Get a truer
perspective on yourself. The world
takes us at our own valuation, and
your valuation of yourself is enough
to make anyone who enjoys good
company-and who does not?-
shrink from you,
1t is a part of your business in
life to be so disciplined and culti-
waited that you are charming and
gracious, but not too sweet. The
too sweet person is like fish with
out lemon, or apple pie without
cheese, or ham without mustard.
Even jam should have a lingering
tartness.
Your opinion of yourself is NOR
bid. And what makes people NOR
bid Brooding and worrying over
some particular thing. Time spent
in introspection is more often than
not time wasted.
We are always being told to look
within, discover what our faults
some weaknesses are and then re-
solve steadfastly and earnestly to
overcome them. o fudge! It's
more often than not a dreary and
depressing futility.
The reason you worry son over
your faults and failings is because
you have not enough to occupy your
mind. You are no doubt q strong,
forceful character, and your natural
energy has no especial outlet, sc
you use it in petty, destructive
way, which is, of course, not worthy
of you.
Turn around and make that en-
ergy constructive. There must be
something which you would like
especially to do. You may have
some real gift which is begging fol-
expression, or you may have a head
for business. 1, of course, do not
know. 1t is up to you to discover
the thing at which you believe you
could excel and then absorb your
self in it. Instead of analyzing and
dissecting your thoughts, lose your
self in something that absorbs all
your attention, and you will find
that in your hours of recreation you
will be gay and glad, instead of sour
and sad as you are at present.
The old habits of speech will hang
on for a while, but IL you don"t
notice them they will gradually
cease. And even If you do hurt
someone's feeling now and then, dc
not agonize over it. Most people
are perfectly we'll able to take care
of themselves in verbal encounter
and they shouldn't so so sensitive
any way.