Evening star., 1933-09-19
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

arousing thoughts never get on the air
waves at ALL but remain locked up for
ever in their place of origin.
Something is said In conversation
which one instantly resents, often justly
enough. but not by sign or word
Is the resentment made known.
A placid countenance. perhaps q
sweet smile, even q word of agree
ment-often these are the prices OF
peace. The cost Of peace is always
large, often greater than the cost OF
warfare, although paid in different
coin.
Does any one think that the legendary
couple who have not spoken to each
other for twenty years, although they
have lived in the same house together
for all that time, have not paid a
price for their lack OF speech, and es-
pecially for such peace as they have
enjoyed, under such conditions Of sur
face discord?
Some small, pale reflection Of the
same sort of peace. and bought with
the same currency, although In little,
may be seen in every ordinary con-
versation, and 1t makes no difference
who the participants are.
It Is because these little currents and
ripples Of disagreement are ever present,
no matter who speaks to whom, or
however pleasant the conversation may
seem on the surface, that there Is a
strong repugnance felt for the person.
whoever he is, who forever Is stirring
up the mud with his inimical anec-
doteS.
Can he not let one human being get
| by without besmirching him, In some
sense?
Surely 1t Is possible to find at least
one man, known or unknown, about
whom he knows nothing inimical, con-
cerning whom he has heard no story
whatsoever which In any degree re-
fleets upon his integrity, his honesty
or his common sense.
| X 4 y
It would be pleasant to believe that
| the rather tarnished hero of this sketch
! Is rare.
Happily. that is the truth.
| In his finest form. he is seldom seen
He has many imitators, but the real
article. fortunately, Is with us but sell
dom.
The worst thing about him when met
Is his persistency. One Of him is quite
enough to blight the day OF the ordi-
narily courteous civilized human being
who believes that everything he thinks
ought not to go on the air"
| The moment you see the prize speci-
men you know from bitter past expert
ence that the second you mention your
favOrite actor there will be some talk
| Forthcoming putting your star in an
unfavorable light.
| II you praise your physician, he may
! agree that the man is good. but at the
same time he has heard
And you have to listen to 1t, since ii
Is just minor reflection. perhaps the
opinion of some one else upon the man
not anything to get excited about, OF
course.
This is. perhaps. the main point
| against him. He does not make his
anecdotes nasty enough. he sneaks over
hts charges in the form of banter, OF
just plain gossip
He Is like the fellow who says some
thing nastily personal under the guise
Of kidding" as he calls it. You are
supposed to take it in the spirit in
which 1t was meant" but if you really
did SO you would soak him one In the
jaw. PolitenesS sometimes has its
drawbacks
The best remedy for this man is to
minimize. as best one can in ones own
mind. what he says. Let his talk roll in
one ear and out the other. II possible
1t may require persistency, in good
! thinking, but the fortunate thing is
that one will have the same material
! to practice on. and practice is supposed
to make perfect.