Evening star., 1933-06-13
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

Every case Of this interesting species
of humanity We have ever met has had
all extremely powerful grip.
Whether he likes to shake hands on
account of his muscles or whether he
has developed them by this form Of ex-
ercise is question.
The true and unlabored explanation,
We believe, Is that the thing Is habit
with him. that is all.
No matter what was the reason which
led him into it. 1t is now n fully de-
veloped habit. Of which he is almost
wholly unconscious.
Thus. II thousand OF these con-
flrmed hand-shakers were to read this
article. not q one Of them would have
the slightest idea that he belonged to
this ingenious type. 1t Is, we are con-
vinced, totally unconscious habit
1t Is scarcely possible, therefore, to
sst "ibe malice OF any sort to this tiring
In sidual
lie does what he does out of goodness
of soul.
He wants to be well liked, and to
achieve that end he is willing to run
the risk Of possible germ infection.
He has read somewhere that the
handclasp began as an assurance that
plement Of warfare.
Each savage, with the paw of his erst-
while enemy clasped in his, could feel,
for the moment at least that no battle
AK would go 'cleaving through his very
much h-needed skull
Disarming the opponents mind was
the original intent OF the handshake,
ano maybe 1t has that intention still at
bottom.
able and honest correspondent that
there is not much that can be done
about It,
There ought to be, but there isn't.
Such remedy rs there is lies In the
individual-but not the individual hand
shaker. We mean the victim. He must
devise his own ways and means for out
whiting these bores.
1t IL the same here as With the man
with the bad breath, who always insists
on talking to you at the very closest
range. II seated. he bitches his chair
nearer and nearer, until you get onto
the fact that by crossing your knees,
and carefully keeping one foot well ex-
tended, you can keep him ct distance
without offending him.
the fat lady starts to sit down beside
you. No matter how far over you move,
she will attempt to take three-quarters
Of the seat, If you let her You do not
let her. You deftly elevate one elbow.
SO that she, descending, strikes against
1t and Is detected into her due portion
of the seat.
1t Is the same In an office, when you
decide that 1t Is time to get rid of the
tiresome visitor, or the importunate
salesman. You could, Of course, tell them
hatly that their time Is up, but that
would be too fiat, and wholly unneces-
sary.
It is enough to rise gracefully, the
light Of bet1evolence In your eyes, and
to guide them gently to the door, talk
Ing and smiling the while.
Or, and perhaps better way. is to
suddenly recall that one has q very i'm
portant engagement with the boss, and
that II the guest will wait about half an
hour, one will return as soon as the i'm
portant conference Is over. Usually by
the time one gets back he is gone, not
having had any reason for being present
In the flrst place.
Gentle subterfuge works equally well
with the incessant hand -shaker, and is
you see him coming. rush up smiling.
and talking loudly. "Oh. glad to see
you. old man. Got to see somebody
down the hall---be back in moment
wait for me-" Then don't come back,
or 60 around the other way. Evolve
your own method. but be sure to axe
1t loud. glib and Jolly The modest n n
never wins at this game. He has to
shake hand with all corners!