Evening star., 1934-05-10

ly sensitive person can be sure Of,
and that Is that others do not put 20
much stress upon failures as he does.
The bad spots in the lawn, the places
where nothing grows well, the ever
green's which have not done as good
as he hoped, these and many other
small failures of something to live up
to its best are not seen at all by the
chance observer.
1t is the general effect which the
newcomer Is after, not the details. He
has put no time into the general ef-
feet, and has not worried with the de-
tails. He cannot appreciate quite so
well, perhaps, the very good points, but
also he does not see the poor ones as
well, either, unless he happens to be
one OF these unfortunate souls who
sees only imperfections.
Every human being knows at least
one such person. He invariably finds
something to find fault with, some
flaw to observe-and point out. If he
just wouldn't find it necessary to point
it out, he might not be such a bore,
but SO he is, now and forever more. He
does not belong to the good tribe of
those who may see but who keep quiet.
1t is difficult to say just what is the
urge in some specimens of human
nature which impels them, despite
their knowledge of the ordinary laws
Of courtesy, to find it essential that
they find something in error about
everything they see.
Can 1t be that they are so all-wise
and SO truth-telling that they simply
cannot resist?
As omniscience, and as the truth,
they must be doubted. Mostly their
remarks are Just plain bad taste, and
| often in error. There Is a streak of
jealousy in them that speaks plainly
OF forebears that never had what they
wanted in the material possessions of
life, therefore no matter what their
children acquire, said offspring are un-
able to look at life in any more gen.
erous way than their line.
Xxx
In contrast to this rather sorry soul.
there Is the man or woman who finds
something to praise in everything, not
because OF desire to curry favor with
any one, but mostly because there
always Is something to find good in
almost everything. if one has the
ability to see 1t, and the good nature
to mention 1t.
DO not, then, when a friend comes
praislng your garden and neighbor-
hood. suspect him Of double dealing
or, at least, an effort just to please
by his good words. Credit him with
being able to see with untarnished
eyes the good points which you, per-
maps, though you know better than
he. tend to overlook or forget.
Perhaps you have concentrated too
much on the dandelions in the grass
and not enough on the general effect
OF the lawn. which really Is rather
good. after all.
Perhaps you have permitted your
eyes to be dulled by the sight of
familiar things, until at last the old
scenes have lost their keen zest. But,
II you are fortunate, 1t will not be
necessary to move. City folk move
too much. All that Is necessary is
to bolster the powers of appreciation
by doing ones best to look at the old
as If 1t were the new. 1t is not easy,
Of course, and sometimes is almost
impossible, but in the main much may
be achieved by the person with COM
mon sense, intellectual honesty, and
a sense Of humor. If it be objected
that no such paragon exists, let US
reply. and truly, that every human
being has bit of common sense. and
a modicum Of intellectual honesty. II
he possesses even a grain Of humor.
in addition, he is in a position to do
almost anything he pleases, within
reason. but the desire must precede
the doing.