Evening star., 1935-12-02
Dorothy Dix Says
Friendliness, Modesty and Considera-
ton Help in Gaining Popularity.

Who are parents white-haired chill
dren? The good-natured ones who
think that father and mother know
best and never raise ructions in the
family circle. Who are the favorite
brothers and sisters? Those whose
personalities harmonic and who dwell
together In peace. Who are the friends
we like best? Those with whom we
do not always have to be on our P's
and as. Who are the strangers we
take to at sight? Those who rub
our fur the right way. Who are the
husbands and wives whose mates put
up with intemperance and philander-
ing and poor housekeeping and a
thousand faults? 1t is those who are
easy-going and good-natured and
pleasant to live with.
THE next element of popularity Is
adaptability. Undoubtedly the
granite characters that never swerve
an inch and that nothing can bend
from their upright positions are OBJ
jects of awe and wonder, but nobody
wants one Of them for parlor orna-
ment. That Is why some of the best
people in the world are the most lone
some. They simply don't fit into our
hves.
The people we like are those who
can slip into any crowd and be one
of them; who can chum-up equally
well with Judy O'Grady or the
coloners lady, and who can appar-
emily enjoy q hot-dog supper as much
as they would state banquet. Snobby
people, hard-to-please people, wet
blanket people are never popular.
Try them.
The next element Of popularity is
friendliness. You have to like people
to have them like you. You never
saw a cold, reticent, stand-ofish per-
son who was popular. We all shy OF
from them and leave them alone in
their frigidatres, but We just naturally
warm up to those who give us hearty
handclasp, who listen sympathetically
to our tales of woe and who manifest
a genuine heart interest in our affairs.
Asking Mrs. Jones how little Johnnie's
cough is and inquiring of Mr.. Smith
how his golf game is progressing will
get you farther than the most bril-
liant line of intellectual conversation.
xx +
THE next element In popularity is
modesty. Don't be a self-ap-
pointed oracle. Don't grab the highest
seat. Don't put your fingers in other
peoples pies. Don't try to run the
show. If you have talent and execu-
tive ability people will find it out
and they will be lot more impressed
by it If you let them discover it them
selves than they will be If you try to
force it down their throats. There
Is nothing truer than that the humble
shall be exalted, If they deserve 1t.
Every one loathes braggart, but
man or woman who possesses beauty
or talent without conceit Is press
agented by all who know them.
The next element in popularity Is
consideration of others. It is prac-
ticing the amenities of life. Making
yourself agreeable to strangers. Being
courteous and considerate with every
one with whom you deal. Saying
pleasant things to people and about
people, instead of stabbing them to
the heart with cruel witticisms. It
Is taking the trouble to wire o mes
sage Of sympathy to those in trouble.
or write a note of congratulation
to those to whom some good fortune
has come. It Is going to see lonely
people and jollying old people and
making the world generally brighter
place because you live in it.
DOROTHY DIX.
(0opyriRht. 1880