Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-27
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

A joyless worker in any sort Of work
is a trial and burden to the whole
establishment. If he is the successful
young man we have spoken OF, there Is
nothing to do but tolerate him, but no
doubt he would be surprised to know
how many Of his mates long to punch
him in the nose.
Just on general principles they would
like to sock him in the snout, TO re-
mind him forcibly that he owes some
thing to those who work around him
What right has any man in human
society to walk in and out without see
ing any one?
The man brought up on humani-
tartan principles will resent such over
sight 1t will do no good to tell such
a man that the other ought to be ex-
cused. that he has weighty problems on
his mind and must be forgiven, or that
his breakfast toast was burned and II
put him in a bad humor for the day.
If faulty breakfast can do so much
infiicting a crouch on scores OF lnno-
cent persons, it is the mans duty 70
himself and others to see that his toast
is properly made.
If he STAYS up too late at night and
does not get enough sleep and Is forced
to hurry to get to work in time, and
this whole sequence of events puts him
into terrible humor," then it is this
mans duty. one must insist, to see to
it that he goes to bed at a respectable
hour and that he gets up early in order
not to be hurried and that he arrives
at his daily labors in plenty OF time.
One need not be hilarious to be
cheerful. 1t is not at all necessary to
get down on ones knees in silent prayer
to show seemly gratitude for the good
things which life showers upon one.
The deeply religious attitude comes
to the average man only upon occa-
sions, but the sensible feeling OF graft
tude of which we speak may be felt
by him every day. If he is sensible OF
1t. he will show it. To do SO, a negative
process of not being gloomy Will suf1ce
X X
There has been too much propaganda
against negations.
Blithe supersalesmen of the high
powered variety have taught that a
bold Affirmative does the trick.
Optimists of the heavily optimistic
school have Numbered In book and
magazine that pessimisrn, form OF ne
CATION, is a Grass failure before OPP
timism and affirmation.
While it must be admitted that there
is much to what they say, suspicion IS
creeping over many that optimism and
affirmations come natural to some peo-
pie and not so much so to others.
A negative statement, in other words,
may be quite as much Of wonder
worker as the positive form, II 1t is
handled intelligently.
There is no law which forces a per-
son 10 say, mo, don't want any straw
berries" when the huckSter asks, Don
you want any Strawberries"
To be told by bold strawberry man,
"Ah, Mister, you want some strawber-
ries," is enough to make any person re-
fuse to buy.
A good form of proper negative
thinking and acting is involved In
showing gratitude in the everyday walks
OF life by being cheerful, pleasant and
courteous to those with whom We come
in contact, especially when they de-
serve 1t.
Many people deserve a great deal
more than they get in this world, and
this is especially true in relation TO
kind words, thoughtful encouragement,
due praise and ordinary civility.
Just because some one has the power
to be boorish does no. make the thing
right. He who would be right as well
as clever ought to think twice before
infiicting a crouch on his friends.