Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-30

Man is defined as thinking animal
but do very many human beings think?
Especially before they speak?
Talk is at once the most pleasing
thing In the world and the most an
moving.
without it we would not be human;
with it we constantly run the danger
Of becoming offended.
It is talk which causes most of the
trouble among men.
So wise a man as the late John
Wanamaker knew this many years ago
when he wrote: "a little more good
willingness one toward another would
not cost much, but would go far toward
easing up the difficulties that come
along our path-in Summer time as
well as Winter. Most of us are strikers
about something or other every week
or so, but we get over our upSetness by
quiet thinking and seeing our own
faults instead of the faults of others.
BY not talking, in other words. BY
keeping ones thoughts to himself un-
til the troubles are ironed out, and one
becomes tranquilfzed.
There are few people who have not
wondered, at some time or other, why
1t Is that so many of their fellows seem
so "touchy," so impossible to speak to
without receiving some linguistic slap
in return.
The only fair conclusion is that they
are not so much mean as they are I'M
thoughtful. They speak, in other words,
without thinking. The result Is that
their remarks often rub others the
wrong way, give them a reputation for
being intolerant, and brand them as
dictatorial.
What they have really done, of course,
is to speak without thinking. The
thought in the mind pops out when 1t
would be best from every standpoint If
it did not Usually first thoughts are
not good thoughts. especially as they
bear upon the minds, habits. deeds OF
others. Probably first thoughts, based
upon emotions, in so far as they con-
Germ ones self are the very best
thoughts of all. That is why those who
act according to their emotions, their
real inner desires usually come out
best, in the long run. Too much bal
ancing of pros and cons in life seldom
gets one anywhere.
In regard to others, however one
cannot think too much. And, alas, it is
exactly here that most of us think the
least! We are willing to think a bit
about our own precious problems, but
when it comes to the problems OF
others we attempt to solve them off,
hand, and then become sullen when they
show their disapproval. Yet how is 1t
possible for us to expect others to &C
cept shallow thinking or no thinking
at all, in the place of real thinking, or
at least an honest attempt to weigh
matters?
1t is all too evident that most human
beings are not interested in the prob
lens of other human beings. In fact,
those who make a profession of other
peoples business are commonly re-
garded with suspicion, although they
may be the best-hearted people IN the
world.
If they are not interested, why do
they butt in and attempt to give lad
vice" on problems about which they
know nothing and even refuse to think?
Let one speak up and say that he pro-
poses to fence in his lot, some neigh
Dor Is sure to pop up with an objection,
although every other lot in the COM
munity may be hedged and fenced in
properly. What does the obiector know
or care about the reasons which
impel the other to go to the consider
able expense of hedging and fencing?
Many replies, too, are made in an
attempt to be witty. This is one Of
the major curses under which mankind
lies. There are perhaps not more than
O. dozen real wits in the world at any
one time, but evidently most men and
women try to pass themselves OF as
such, If one may judge from the
thoughtless words issuing from their
lips. They try so hard to get a