Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-23
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

Perhaps Shakespeare would have been
nearer to the point If his famous in
| junction, neither a borrower nor q
lender be-" had applied to advice rather
than to money.
There is no commodity more eagerly
sought or more willingly given than
advice, and mostly it rebounds neither
to the good of the asker nor credit Of
the giver.
Children. the only ones whose lack
of experience might make them ask it
| legitimately, mostly never seek advice
! from any quarter, but blindly plunge
into their little affairs without benefit
OF consultation. If 1t turns out well,
they are happy; If i'll, they cry.
Their elders might we'll emulate them,
it would seem, for who are these others
we all ask advice from? Are they any
wiser than We, or what do they know
that we do not know? They are. as
Shylock said, fed with the same food,
and breathe the same air. The knife
that cuts us will cut them, too.
In no way are they better equipped to
solve problems, but we run to them for
a solution of life's difficulties. the little
as well as the big. The foolishness of
the action is revealed in its true light
by the fact that the average man or
woman is more likely to seek advice on
small matters than on large. In so
doing he merely exposes himself to the
rldicule with which the other may re-
gard his request. If the other stopped
to think about it at all. he would won
der why one should come to him, since
he is in no superior position. Ordi-
narily he does not think much about
it, but blurts forth a solution, the first
one that comes to mind. Then II you
do not follow his plan, he forever is
displeased. since you have rejected the
/ fruit OF his brain. 1t IS amazing. the
fondness which the average human
being can work up for the results of his
own cogitations. Instead of regarding
it as it deserves, as the lily thought
scheme of an idle moment. rather done
with the tongue than with the mind,
he assumes an intense attitude of ad-
miration, being willing both to argue
and to fight. If necessary to uphold the
majesty of his own ideas. Nor IS this
all, He will labor long and assiduously
to convince himself that he is right,
when all the time he knows IN the bot
tom Of his heart that he is wrong.
~
The one you look to for advice knows
no more about the problem than you
do, besides he can consider it only
from his own standpoint, not yours
There are perhaps only a few persons
in the world, comparatively speaking,
who are able to sink their own desires
and beliefs in the desires and thoughts
of others. The rest Of them are in
capable Of giving good advice; they
are not interested very much, in the
first place, and then they cannot grasp
the others individual problems because
they will not give the time to it.
If any of us were serious in this
business OF asking mental help, We
would go to an utter stranger and pay
him for his services. If he were an
ordinarily honest man, and you paid
him enough. no doubt you might run
some chance of receiving something
back in return for value received. He
actually might try to help you'll As it
is, the friend or acquaintance to whom
We apply for advice on a project, or
scheme, or contemplated change, or
purchase. makes no attempt whatever
to be of real service. 1t is another case
Of easy come. easy go. Also-and this
Is more to the point-it is a clear in
stance of lin one ear and out the other"
He pays no attention to what you say
because he is too interested in what he is
going to say. 1t is bad psychological sit
uation. Instead Of concentrating on your