Evening star., 1931-12-31
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

yes, but the second point is Just as
important, ''to anybody who will listen. ="
The born braggart who always must
be taken as the model, never diScrim-
mates; that is, he does not pick and
choose when it comes to those he prac-
tices on. The glories OF himself, he
seems to reason, are too great to be held
a secret or to be reserved only Tor q
few. Let them be spread to the wind !!
Perhaps this humble person, here, who
was trained to humility at a good
mothers knee, might be helped by the
recital Of the successes of an onward
rushing type. One must either go for
ward or backward, of course There is
no such thing as standing still. Any
successful man will tell you the same.
No one would stand still for anything.
1t is against the principles of really
successful men. They go forward or
backward, like pendulumS, but they
never stand still, like posts.
The applied braggart quickly learns,
from the born boaster, that no fry is
too small to listen to him. Tell about
the glorious things you are doing to the
boss, If you can get him TO listen to
you, but, lacking him, try 1t out on
the Office boy, or the elevator man. The
humble student OF braggartry falls down
completely at this point. He, simple
soul, thinks that the one who may be
able to help genius In Its colossal rise
to fame Is the only one to whom TO
talk.
No mistake could be greater. Just
as little pitchers have big ears, so small
people are among the best listeners. and
often are the best retailers OF what
they hear. Never think Bcornfu..>. Men
Ia " ha hp Ua
blabber who will get your meSage to
the right ears) Just so long a. he has
ears to hear, let him hear Regale-him
with all your exploits, large and small.
Tell him the same thing, over and over
again, If you cannot think Of anything
new to tell the sap. Go on the assump-
ton that he should be grateful to you
for speaking to him at all
The two main things to tell him are
comprised in the wise gentleman's next
two points, Nos. 3 and 4, to be precise
about 1t.
Tell how we'll your work Is catching
on" There is nothing better than that
for bsMng the prospect, but he will
have 10 listen to you, for fear OF Of
Tending you, The American people are
very touchy, after all, especially when
it comes to such matters, although
many of them profess to believe that
they are not Reduced to its simplest
terms, this enthralling message is moth
ing more nor less than, II am succeed
ing" The Office boy tells the elevator
man, THAT chap is succeeding" the
elevator man tells the chief CharWoman,
That guy says he is succeeding. You
see. the average elevator operator Is in
clined to be something Of cynic The
chief charwoman forgets the reverse
twist and retails it to the poStman
simply, THAT gentleman is succeeding"
So it goes up and down the line until
it comes out, in the rooms OF the junior
and senior officials, as Templeton
Jones is succeeding in big way" And
that is just dandy for T. Jones, esq.
The junior and senior officials never
realize for an instant that they have
been swallowing large, easy doses OF
personal publicity. Or do they?
Go into details of all compliments"
This is an easy one. Every man alive,
as well as every woman, loves to receive
compliments. Some call it apple
sauce" But it doesn't make any diff
ference what you call it, it is just the
same thing. Praise is sweet in the ears
and Unfortunately easy on the tongue.
No one can blame any one for telling
the fine things that may be said about
him and his work. So, if you would
boast to the limit, never miss a chance
in this easy fashion. 1t is just like
taking candy from children, as they
used to say.
Now, whether all this is true or not,
We do not know. We merely present it
with the compliments of the cynical
gentleman and the best wishes of the
season, with charity for all and with
malice toward none.