Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-22
SUB ROSA
~p-z@~---s-=-s--.-~s->@D
BY MIMI.
BY MIMI.
One Kind of Charm.

A girl in pale orchid stretched her
slim length on the lawn and gazed
out at a blue sea through narrowed
lids. She was one Of a group Of four
blithe young things who had come to
call on me.
There were some boys in the party
too, and the girls were keyed up,
anxious to show off and look their
best.
Hands fumbled with Grant locks
Of hair. or adjusted rakish little hats
at decided angle. Powder puffs
were applied to small sunburnt noses.
and quickly put away again.
Three OF the girls were In motion
every minute. Having finished their
public toilettes, they burst into con-
versation-nervous gusts Of 1t. They
laughed quickly and eagerly at the
slightest sally. Of wit from a member
Of the male contingent.
They listened with amazed in
credulity to the dullest recital Of the
dullest motor accident by the dullest
boy present. They shrieked: ooh, no,
really? He did? I can't believe it.
How marvellous"
While the girl In orchid listened and
occasionally favored the noisy little
group with a serene smile.
There was nothing shy in her 81
lence-nothing diff1ren or timid. On
the contrary, she semed to have the
situation more thoroughly in hand
than any Of her friends.
For occasionally she turned with a
faint ripple Of laughter and offered
a suggestion Of her own-a dry,
amusing little suggestion which
brought outlaws from the boys, and
genuine mirth from the girls.
Mostly, though, she sat silent.
Even when there were breaks in the
conversation going on about her. she
made no attempt to I'LL up the gaps
The other girls, however, writhed
with anxiety when silence fell. They
plucked grass nervously, Uttered I'M
certainly and eventually broke through
with some remark intended to start
the ball rolling again.
At a time like this, they'd glance
rather resentfully at the orchid girl.
She was 80 unmoved either by anxiety
or fear lest conversation should stop
entirely.
She didn't care. She was calm and
poised and sure. She wasn't afraid
that people would think her dull and
uninteresting If she didn't ramble
every minute.
And her charm made itself felt by
every member of the party. II hers
had been a stupid silence, she'd never
have attracted any one.
But from the fact that she could
talk well when she wanted to, one
realized that hers was a silence Of
peace. She was outside of that noisy
chatter and eager laughter. She had
no part in 1t. She didn't feel the
need of a part in it.
It's only the nervous. self-conscious
little body who's afraid to be quiet
once in a while. The girl who Is
insure Of herself talks continually to
give the impression that she's per-
fectly at ease.
She assumes that the person she's
with is bound to consider her a
dreadful dumbell If she doesn't do any.
thing to prove differently.
Whereas the self-confident, posed
young woman assumes that people
know she's intelligent unless she talks
in way to disapprove that idea.
That difference Of outlook will often
give away to strangers whether or not
you're a popular, confident girl.
If you show no fear Of what they
may think of you, they're apt to take
you for a personality.
And If you fiutter about, striving
to keep up the conversation, anxiously
trying to please, they'll get the def.
mite idea that you're not sure of your.
self-and consequently can't have had
much in your life to give you conf.
dence and ease.
Figure that out, and try to be calm,
confident and silent. once in q while.
(Copyright. 1927
Mimi win be glad to answer any in
Quiries directed TO this paper provided Q
| stamped. addressed envelope 10 inclosed.