Evening star., 1928-05-07
SUB ROSA
ny MIMI.
The Soft Answer.

'I do the best I can" shifted Peggy
1T isn't my fault that Bob and have
such fights. I never quarrel with him.
! He does it ALL"
And her friends agree Sympathetically.
patting her on the back and telling
each other of the many times they've
heard Bob start a quarrel which Peggy
did her best to forestall,
She literally won't fight with him."
explains Mary. when he bursts out
in an angry scene she answers him Just
as softly and sweetly as If he were max
ing love to her."
So Peggy's friends and relatives have
simply come to regard Bob as big
bully who lives for the pleasure Of row.
ing with his winsome, sweet-tempered
Peg.
And when the young couple marry, as
they probably will, In spite of the sue
cession OF quarrels which has marked
their courtShip, 1t will be Bob who
shoulders the blame for all inharmony
in the household. Peg who will reap
sympathy and tenderness from all sides
Poor Peg has learned" observed
Daphne judicially that a soft answer
doesn't always turn away wrath"
Daphne has said an earful Peggy
has indeed learned to her satisfaction
that her own particular brand of soft
answer would drive any man into a
raving temper.
And because she is a spiteful little
piece she uses the soft answer to the
limit--with such an air of virtue, too.
Bob Is big, impulsive, hot-headed
youngSter, who needs to be managed by
kind, sweet-tempered little girl He
could be wrangled out of his fits of bad
humor in the twinkling of an eye If the
girl in the case really wanted to end
the argument
He got awfully angry the other day
waiting for Peggy. When she showed
up an hour late he famed out at her,
angry, impulsiye, quick-tongued:
Why on earth can't you try to be on
time?" he demanded. you come hours
late and make fool of me. I've been
standing here for an hour and a half"
Now, Peggy. reputediy the sweetest
tempered girl In the crowd, has an un-
pleasant disposition all her own.
She is nettied at his tone, much
more nettled than she'd ever admit to
her dearest friend but instead of nam-
ing back at him she uses the more
subtle method of enraging him.
She speaks softly: I'm so sorry,
dear. to be late. It's stupid of me, /
know. But If you'd only, just once in a
while, be eonsiderate enough to cali me
up some time before and let me know
when I'm TO be ready, 1t might help
things. do try so hard. Bob. to phase
you. and you're not always conSldefate.
II you could only learn to be----'f A
wistful. appealing smile finishes the
picture.
OF course, Bob goes charging of like
mad bull, and the fight is on, with
Peggy prodding him with delicateE In
situations, uttered in a sweet, cajdling
voice. and he rearing and Snorttng and
charging blindly.
Not pretty picture. 1t won't get
prettier as II goes on, The poison OF
Peggy's malice viii seep into their do
mestic life and rob 1t Of all beauty Rnd
harmony.
And She win always get away with
her little method, because It's clever and
subtle.
Girls with ugly tempers and noisy,
qlarrelsomc dispositions very often cor
rect these evils because the contempt
OF their friends forces them into a
change
But Peggy's concealment of her true
nature Is eficient Her friends stand
by her. they admire her. they pity her
So that her brand Of malice thrives and
grows apace. A dangerous growth In
the family circle.
BE not deceived by the soft answer
which deliberately induces wrath; nor
deceive yourself into thinking that this
type of answer denotes a sweet, loving
nature,
Mimi will I've glad TO answer an inquiries
directed 10 this paper, provided stamped
addressed envelope ie inclosed.
tC0pynght. 1DaS,l