The Washington times., 1936-02-14
Blue Notes
List Same
Symptoms
BY BEATRICE FAIRFAX

lens of Love and Marriage
When a girl writes to me
that she's 18 years old and not
popular, but that people call
her pretty and, although her
parents provide her with good
clothes and a good home, she
never makes a date-the solu-
tion is not far to see.
Sometimes she succeeds in
rounding up a boy once or
twice, but he never comes
back for another date.
In despair, her mother gives
her a party and invites all the
young people, but they don't seem
to have a good time. They're
concealed in the same sort Of chill
which emanates from the young
hostess. And they drift away as
soon as possible. -.
Then comes the crux Of the con-
fession. AS one Of them wrote
me this morning:
'Tm awfuIIy blue nearly all
Of the time. 1t makes me 80
restless that I can't settle down
to anything. I'm Is years old
and have never been popular.
Girls who are lots homelier
than I'm (fOr everyone says
I'm pretty, and my parents are
very generous about clOthes)
seem to have . grand time.
81 think the reasol4 must be
that I'm terribly shy, seR-cOn-
sciOus and don't dance very
well"
SHE'S MORBID
The melancholy recital con-
tinues for two pages. And then
comes the unbelievable announce
ment from the girl that she would
like to 60 to Honolulu and nurse
the leperS as she doesn't seem to
fit in with boys and girls Of her
own age.
That, Of course, Is sheer NOR.
bidity. She doesn't really want
to nurse lepers any more than
she wants to go into a lions den'
ike Daniel.
She's got a crouch on life be-
cause she isn't popular, and she
wishes to dramatic a gesture OF
revolt.
But those in charge Of . leper
colony would not care to accept
the proffered services Of . mel
ancholy young lady Of 1S-with
absolutely no equipment for the
job-any more than the boys and
girls Of her own set find her
companionable.
In a certain pigeon-hole Of my
desk, there are a lot Of letters
all marked, in blue pencil, "blue."
They're all from young people,
and there seems to be no par
ticular reason why they should
be unhappy.
They're young, have nice homes,
generous parents and at least q
high school education. So maybe
Q little jolt might be the right
medicine for these young people
who enjoy feeling sad.
Self-InduIgence
All said and done, isn't being
blue continually a species Of self
Indulgence? And do you happen
to recall Thomas Moore's couplet,
which ends with:
''I'n taste the luxury Of woe"
Woe is apparently a highly
popular flavor with a good many
people-young and old. It's meat
and drink to them, and they're
not averSe to a snack at odd
hours.
It's so much easier to curl up
In a comfortable chair and brood
on the malice Of fate than shake
yourselves out Of the rut Of NOR
bid self-indu1gence and do some
thing active, even if it's only to go
for brisk walk, put your bureau
drawers In order or try doing
something decent to person
who is less fortunate.
If you want to be really popu-
lar, cultivate the ability to add
q little cheerfulness to life. You
can feel the barometer Of a room
rise when certain people enter it.
They may not be handsome. rich
or influential, but when they
come into a room, the atmoS-
phere changes and the party be-
gins.
Such people are good sports,
and if luck has slammed the
door on their faces temporarily,
they don't take up your time
telling you about it.
To be popular, learn how t. be
cheerful.
~