The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-03-12
FLatte1-y Is
Pleasing to
Both Sexes
BY MARTHA LEE


In mixed circles, when golf and
business, bridge and clothes be-
come cloyIng as conversational It'd
bits, and the m3n and women de-
eide to do little mental sparring,
the trend Of talk usually drifts into
channels regarding the relationship
of men and women.
Eventu. lily it will simmer down
to a debate on the question: To
which sex ke-ongs the most vora-
clouS appetite for flattery?
The men contend the medal goes
TO the weaker sex. The women say
that men can consume the most
aattary with the heartiest gusto
and still remain as empty as b
dapper'S head.
Men, particularly husbands, come
forth with Where do we get a
chance to develop a taste for fiat
tery?"
We Need Boosting
"Sez YOU" say the wives and
sweetheartS. I'VE don't hear you
putting out any compliments in
wholesale lots, SO why should we?"
1t never has seemed an especially
grave problem. But when a word of
praise can work such wonders, why
be so Stingy? 1t is not particularly
important which sex can consume
the most f1attery. The important
thing is to get a decent quota.
No two ways about it, we all
need boosting up once in while.
There are days when a word OF
praise, shred of f1attery is just the
needed spur to keep us plugging
along.
One of the first cries of a wan
dering husband or wife is that they
have a mate who doesn't under
stand them" Can't that be boiled
down to this one thing-that the
wife gives her husband a knock
when he needs a boost, that she
complains about his poor taste in
ties when he desires earnestly that
she give him some word Of praise
for some bit of strategy in business
that he has just accomplished?
Balm to Spirits
And the wives who go seeking
after the attentions of other men
often are driven by hunger for
appreciation and f1attery.
Among the unmarried women who
find it necessary to toll for their
existence, the vail goes up that the
girl who can put out the most eff
fective you wonderful great big
man" look is the one who pulls down
the heavy salary job. Until women,
en- nasse, can show contempt for
the you wonderful woman" line,
that question would be better left
out of conversations in mixed cir
cleS.
Men and women both need fiat
terry, call it what you will. It's balm
to the spirits and ambrosia to the
Every woman wants to
be attractive to her own husband.
She wants to hear him say, once in
a while at least, that she is pretty,
Or very charming, or has excellent
taste. When she struggles along on
a pittance, she wants him to tell
her what q wonderful manager he
thinks she is, how we'll she does
on little and what help she is to
him.
Seek Elsewhere
And in return every man wants to
hear his vile say that he is a great
fellow. quite more than she had
supposed him to be when she mar
ried him. When he turns a neat
business trick he wants her to
marvel at his acumen. He wants
to hear her say that he still is too
attractive to be safe.
Neither a husband nor wife wants
that line all the time. If they got
it, they'd probably think there was
something up that needed being put
down.
But there are times when such
bits of balm can be given sincerely
when they have been deserved. And
if the husbands and wives don't get
fattery from their own mates, they
will seek it elsewhere.