Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-04
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

stantly have for each other. The
writer here once sat In q downtown
restaurant with one of the finest fellows
In the world, who had just arrived from
a Middle West State.
AS they sat at table, In came WASH
ingtonian, another good scout from
every standpoint. The man from the
West began to bristle, as the other,
from position at table across the
room, began to look him over
Who is that chap" he asked, In cor
dial tones of dislike. Remember, he
had never seen the other before in his
life
The name and position of the other
were explained to him In laudatory
words.
Il don't like him." he went on. II
hate his looks" A subsequent introduce
ton did not change the status Of the
case at all. Each detested the other.
Now, when one such man happens
to stare an instant too long at another
fist fight is imminent. These UNI
spoken antipathies perhaps have more
to do with the question of staring than
is commonly supposed
Children often embarrass one In pub
lie vehicles by fixed glances, although
commonly their stares are marks of adj
miration, which somewhat softens the
crime
What humanity resents is the pur-
poseleSs stare. Perhaps the real rea-
son behind this lack of appreciation of
the unmoving glance is the secret in
the look.
The secret in the glance!
All, that is what we resent! What
is he up to? Why does he stare so?
If we might read those eyes, we might
not mind their glance. Surely 1t Is not
the physics of the thing which is
inimical. The direct gaze of pet dog
or cat is pleasing
The effrontery of this stranger who
tries to stare us out OF countenance is
insufferable. One begins to f1dget. One
stares back. The battle of the eyes Is
as 1t Immediately puts the starer in line
for dose of his own medicine, and
subjects him to exactly the same forces
that he is subjecting you to.
X
Behind all the civilization of the pres
ent day, the average man Is still en-
gagged in one big quest, that for food.
He may disguise this search, which
takes thousand forms, but at bottom
he Is doing exactly what the animal
does when it stalks down the path at
night looking for something to eat.
This view takes away none of the
grandeur of humanity's accomplish
ments. but makes them all the surer
and truer since 1t is this brother to
the beasts who has risen on his hind
legs and stayed there, and has made i'm
mortal use of forces and materials which
all the other creatures of this world
have failed to comprehend.
1t Is because the continued stare of
an unknown brings the other face to
face with his ancient lineage that he
so resents 1t. He no longer. in the
march of the centuries. Is willing to adj
NIT that the secrets behind another's
eyes cause him to be afraid. to tremble
In view of the unknown, to shrink from
the questions unspoken.
He wants to feel that he Is, indeed.
but little lower than the angels. The
hard stare of stranger brings him
back to earth. II whips up remem-
brances. conjures pictures OF the lost
Eden. The stare OF the stranger prizes
into his proud human soul. and ne re-
sents it with all human beings in
tolerance.
Let me alone" his answering gaze
says. Let me alone, or I'll start star
ing at you"