Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-16
SUB ROSA
Dogmatic Dora.

Dora does not give her opinions on
things. She states facts. She never
says: "Oh, / think that book is won
derful. Didn't you enjoy it,"
She announces in high, clear voice:
That's the best book of the season.
Perfectly written, absolutely. true to
life. It's a great book. You haven't
read it, Ye gods. And yet you have
the nerve to say you read"
This last is guaranteed to wither
any young aspirant for true book
lovers reputation. Dora is scornful,
angry and contemptuous of people
who do not read the correct books at
the same time.
She is simply Disguised and trifie
amused about the unfortunates who
don't happen TO share her tastes.
.'Oh. | can't listen to you" she ii ex-
plain. What is the use of talking to
peopIe like you. You haven't the
faintest idea what it's all about"
And with that she fiounces herself
out of the conversation. She simply
will not take part in a discussion
where she is not recognized as the
leading authority on everything. 1t
bores her to have. to listen to the
opinions of a crowd who know moth
ing.
That's such a dangerous frame of
mind for a little girl who wants to get
ahead and have good times, and go
about with the rest of the crowd.
Even Dora isn't above a love of
childish joys. She has her warnings
for real rush at dance, real pro-
posal, real good party.
But so far. they're passing her by.
And it's all because of that little habit
of hers-she simply won't let anybody
else have the latest opinion which
does not exactly coincide with hers.
She knows she has a good mind
And she figures that with her superior
gray matter she can dope things out
much better than the other girls.
SO she takes highhanded stand
on every subject that comes along.
She states firmly her ideas on the mat
ter, and then groans horribly when
any one ventures a protest.: why
must you disagree?" she walls. You
don't know a thing about what We're
discussing. You haven't read enough.
You're utterly incompetent to judge.
Please let me go on
wen, tnefe you are. Snc uocS IL
honestly because she believes she has
more intelligence than any one else,
end can therefore speak as an au-
thority.
She thinks that with her specially
trained mind she can put people wise
to the truth about everything. And
to her it seems absurd for them to dis
agree. !.
She'd be astonished il / were to tell
her that she's as ignorant In her way
as are all those despised friends of
hers.
For she's ignorant enough not to
T, get the other fellows point Of view.
She's young enough not to realize
there is any other point of view.
Until she gets hep to the fact that
her idea is only one angle of the sit.
uation she doesn't know anything.
She's Just a conceited kid.
Until she can learn to listen to other
peoples opinions in order to help out
her own woeful lack of knowledge,
she don't be anything but a half
baked schoolgirl.
When you find yourself setting your
self up as an authority on things, be-
ware-it probably means that you're
growing narrow.minded and woefully
ignorant.
Also, don't be taken in by the Dog
matte Doras. Don't let them bully
you. They and their opinions are
usually narrow and bigoted-other-
wise they wouldn't be so decided.
Copyright 1927