Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-09
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES Z. TRACEWELL.

DR.. Samuel johnson once said to
James Boswell: "In the last age, when
my mother lived in London. there were
two sets Of people-those who gave the
wall and those who took 1t; the peace
abe and the qusrrelsome.
The world of men is still divided be-
tween these two classes. There Is. of
course, no precise point of cleavage. but,
in the main. most people may be set
down as either quarrelsome or peace
able by disposition.
One or the other of these character
istics seems to be born with every hui
man being. as a sort Of gift which is
as much a part of him as his hair, or
his eyes, or his hands.
Just as no one can escape the color
of his eyes. so no man can ever quite
get away from his innate disposition In
this respect. This does not mean that
man is forever quarrelsome or In
variably modest and shrinking.
1t Is impossible for the most choler1c
person to be invariably in an angry
mood. A little sunshine will creep into
even the g,oomieSt life: even the cheer
lest person will sometimes be angry.
No; only general tendencies can be
considered. 1t is enough if every one
may be placed into one or the other of
these two lists. Once having put him
in, you may better know how to handle
him thereafter.
X X x
This rough classification of mankind
Is easiest made when strangers are being
considered, for then one is not hampered
by too much knowledge. Let so much
be admitted
A thorough knowledge of some one
will often make one hesitate, because
~ IlT inf
traits mixed in such confusion that 1t
is difficult for the honest observer to
separate them. A mean man will some
times turn around and display good
heart and naturally peaceful rharac-
ter suddenly become enraged over
something to which others do not have
the key.
With utter strangers, however, the
matter Is easier. The thing is then
brought down to the elemental pro-
portions which Johnson's mother gave
1t: those who give the wall, and those
who take it,"
This homely illustration arose from
the habit of those who insisted on walk
ing next the wall when once they
started out. 1t could have arisen only
In q country of walls and men inclined
to be churlish.
Once London pedestrian got the
wall, whether it was on the left or right
side Of the walk. he kept it against all
corners evidently. He kept it, that is,
unless he was one of the peaceful.
Almost always it is possible for the
discerning to tell the difference between
these two fundamentally different per-
sons at a glance.
Much has been made Of the thought
that what man is shows In his face.
What he does, we are told. will finally
come out in his countenance. las a
man thinkest In his heart so is he"
While this doctrine may be carried to
the point of absurdity. there undoubt-
eddy is a great deal of truth in it, in
the main, and in no way is it better
shown than in the question under con-
Sideration.
Peaceable people may be rich or poor,
high born or low born. litcrate or Hitter
ate. They may be found in city, town
and form. But. wherever they are
found they will be alike in this: that
they rather shrink from quarrel OF
any kind.
Not that they will not quarrel! As
long as human beings are basically
animals, the animal passions will at
times get the better Of even the best Of
them. No one can quite be an angel n
this world.
peaceable folk prefer not to enter