Evening star., 1933-09-19

What shall we think of the per-
fectly astounding ability of some per-
sons TO know something derogatory
about every one?
They have anecdotes rejecting upon
the sincerity and judgment Of any one
mentioned. Especially they never let
an opportunity pass to put anOthers
character in disparaging light.
II they can do nothing else, they
attribute motives to the innocent one
which often would astonish that gen.
tlemsn immensely. His role as q devil
with deep-laid plans is something new
to him.
1t would seem that those who in
variably have something i'll to say of
any one mentioned. no matter who.
whether high or low, prominent or OBJ
scure. have two main incentives.
One of these Is jealousy.
The very fact that some one is spoken
OF in good terms makes them envious.
Since all good terms are not reserved
tear down those set aside for another.
The ramifications Of such emotions
are far to seek and In each case the
entire mental history of the jealous one
would be required.
1t is too much. The observer has no
desire to make case histories, but to
understand, if possible. why these per-
sons act as they do. then he may be
able to view them with more charity.
Another incentive OF those who have
inimical anecdotes. often mean little
stories, to relate about others. when-
ever these are mentioned. Is the per-
fectly human desire for q reputation
Tor perspicacity.
Most OF us like to pose as wiseacres
We want to impress, to make others
sit up and take notice" to put our
selves in the pleasant position OF
knowing more than the person We are
speaking to.
About the easiest way in the world to
90 this Is to relate what some one else
has said about some other person. or
some story one has heard about him.
All such anecdotes are unanswerable
except in general terms. There is NO
contradlcting story or an anecdote;
the thing speaks for itself. and. un-
fortunately. is beyond contradiction
Perhaps that Is the main reason they
are SO popular.
1t makes little difference how much
one knows such things are in error, the
inability to answer them properly re-
mains fully in force.
There Is not much to do but deny
and denial often but dignifies what has
been said. To accord it any attention
whatever is more than it deserves.
In ordinary conversation one is un-
der the necessity for remaining as
pleasant as possible. It is not gener-
ally realized what compromise the
average civilized talk Is. after al Few
persons in such a world as this ever
say one-half or one-tenth as much as
they think. when they are talking to
some one. any one. especially some one
who somehow is at odds. II never SC
slightly. with them
The most curious answers flash into
the mind. but in practically every case
such replies are pushed back into the
mind from which they never get into
speech. but only into the outer rooms
of the brain.
Often one Is conscious, when harbor-
ing such swift flashes. that there IL
dynamite in them One may be tempted
to say them audibly, just to see what
would happen then. No doubt much OF
the mischievous talking of the every
day is the result Of such an inner dare
of mans mind to his soul
Plain curiosity, to gauge the amount
Of inner resentment which will show
may be behind much OF the Idle chatter
of the world
1t is much to the credit of mankind
that the great bulk Of possibly ire