Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-12-05
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

and for decisiveness, when all he mer-
its is tin medal for slapstick methods.
Choice Is thus seen to be something
more than appears on the surface. No
doubt many human being has posed
successfully as a firm, determined
character, when all the time he mani
tests nothing more than a lack Of re-
gard for the niceties of life, with safe
method of approach to cultural things.
Decide quickly If you want to make
a show before Others but II your de-
sire is to impress yourself, take your
time and be as heSitant as you please,
If that is your character.
Nor be afraid of the small choice.
This sort is the most difficult OF all,
precisely because 1t is OF no particular
importance.
If it were a matter of great moment
the old sanity of the race, which seldom
fails one in crisis, would come to
ones aid.
But since it is merely a question
of which pie, whether pumpkin, apple
or custard, one is to choose, it will re-
quire great deal of palaver and think
ing about it and about"
The strong, determined character"
makes a grab for the nearest piece,
whatever it may be, not because ne Is
so ALFRED strong, nor yet because he
is determined, but largely because he
doesn't give whoop.
He Is not interested In which pie,
but in pie. Food, not flavor. Is what
he wants. He Is, in other words, no
artist in culinary matters.
Just so it is something to eat" he
says, or, nearer the truth, Jest so it
is sumpin' to eat"
Conceit, or lack of it, Is the real key
note here as in many of the other af-
fairs of life.
If man has enough conceit to value
his own opinion highly, the chances
are that he will be thinking OF the i'm
preston he is going to make.
In that case, even in so simple a
matter as pie selection, or the choice OF
a necktie to go with a new suit. he Will
think that he is on parade, that all
eyes are upon him, and believe that
he must make an instantaneous selec-
ton to show himself man Of forceful
character.
Deeper than that, however, runs his
egotisn. 1t Is a part of him, whether
he feels he is on parade or not. HIS
choice, his instant choice, will be right.
So much he has made up his mind
about in advance, as a general working
AlCAAOC Az AO@AC"S ~~ 49,
night the day that he cannot be false
to any man. especially his own precious
inner man.
Invariably will such a conceited per-
son, by nature, justify to himself every
act every choice, whether made with
true conviction or not.
Little is to be said against this atti-
tude; it is workable, practical plan of
conduct one which has been utilized,
without conscious thought, by many
eminent and successful men.
There will always be, however, a GER
tain number of men and women who
utterly lack, also by nature, any portion
whatsoever of that conceit, that egotism
which makes selections so easy matter
for others.
They are never sure they are right
about anything, although they may be
more correct, in most matters, than
their fellows.
They like to think, in rare moments,
that they see too much, and know too
much, and are too fair in their evalua-
tons, to arrive at ready judgments on
hit-and-miss basis which involves no
more than a satisfaction of the egotisti-
cal spirit.
Even In so small matter as the
selection of a new rug they will doubt
the sanity of their choice, as they recall
the beautiful specimens they left behind.