Evening star., 1935-07-04
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

The man who specialiZes in making
unpleasant remarks in ordinary con-
versation is problem to the fair minded
person who despises the underhand in
any form.
Such remarks, however accompanied
by smiles, are at bottom nothing but a
subtle form Of sly nastiness, yet they
are so common that they are accepted
as a part of everyday talk in all circles.
The wight who hies the family out for
a ride on Sunday afternoon and con-
sumes three-fourths of the trip taking
pokes at the doings, sayings and foibles
of those in the back seat-what is he
but an unregenerate fool at whom it is
hard to get back?
The fellow whose lips are curled in a
perpetual sneer, which he tries to hide
by Disgusting with smile, while he
seeks to find an entry for the thrust
of a mental lance-what is he but an
uncompromising nuisance?
The joke about him Is that often he
really does not understand what he is
trying to do himself. If you were to
tell him that jealousy and envy were
at the bottom of his disposition, in that
he actively reSentS any advantages or
gifts of another, he would tell you with
some heat that he did no such thing,
that no one could view the successes
and achievements of others with more
real equanimity.
His words speak louder than his
actions, however
His words give him away, and all those
who have heard him know it, however
much he rationalizes himself to himself.
The fact that he invariably disguises
his attacks with smiles fools nobody.
The fact that few persons know how
to answer him proves nothing except
that nastineSs in this world is its own
reward, since there seems to be none
other. The fair minded man will search
long to find any other
The usual answer of the victim in all
such cases is an attempt to counter
attack, which is just what the culprit Is
looking for. He knows what to say! 1t
is for this reason, above all, that he is
so invariably pleased with himself.
Possessing mind which enables him
to deal out SLY mental wounds not only
without regret, but with genuine pleas
ure, he is happy when he finds that his
victim is one of those persons who is
not at all expert at the same tactics.
The genius of the fellow lies in his
almost unerring ability at picking 'em.
He can tell the fair-minded people miles
off and never misses a chance to take
them down a peg or two" Something
in his own disposition hates EN-. He
believes that he is doing the world a
service by lambasting 'em.
The only real way for the victim to
get the best of him is to use Gandhi
tactics of non-reSiStance.
If one completely ignores his Sallies,
not as if by intent. but solely as the
result of poor hearing or preoccupation
in something else, he will not know ex-
actly what to make of it.
Not that he will totally give over
trying He is nothing if not persistent
But the fury will be taken out of his
covert assaults on the citadel of the soul
He will not exactly like the proceedings
or his part in it and will come in time
to space his attempts at wider intervals
Not that he will ever give up, OF
course All the time he will be lying
in wait. like a tiger for kid, with a
splendid appetite and craving for real
blood.
He will not quit. but he will be slowed
down considerably, and that is some
thing in such case. Often it is all the
poor victim desires.
The real joke of this personality is
that in practically every case he believes
that he is a jolly good fellow if there