Evening star., 1937-09-21
SnartneSS
Becomes
Stupid
Polite Manners
Better Than
Biting Wit.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

DEAR BOYS AND GIRLS; wish
could say something to you that
would help you to see that there is
TIch thing as being too smart, too
clever to allow of being intelligent at
the same time. Being intelligent Is
the highest state OF being for you,
and sometimes you let your craving
for admiration overcome your intelli-
eence and allow yourself to say or
do something smart, too smart to
be intelligent.
IT. is stupid to be ill-msnnered. Man
ners bear close relations to morals, to
character. The young person who for
gets to stand until his teacher finds
chair; who enters the assembly room
chewing gum; who interrupts people
At their work or in their conversation
to get his own word in, and looks
about him for glances Of admiration
from the other pupils, thinks he is
smart. Other folk. those who count
for most in his life, have decidedly
different opinions. They think him
stupid and when occasion offers,
say so.
1t is stupid to be selfish. The pupil
who gets out of line and pushes some
one else out of his way in order to
he served first; who takes four sheets
Aof drawing paper when two are his
allowance; who shoots downstairs
three steps at time when others are
making their way down in regulated
fashion. who insists upon the instruc-
tors seeing his paper first, attending
to him first, making an exception of
his case always, and fancies that he
Is the center Of admiring glances from
those not so smart, is mistaken. He
is being stupid because those who have
been inconvenienced by his selfshness
are united in their opinion of him.
They dislike him and all his ways,
and some day he is going to feel the
weight of that dislike.
There is always the temptation to
say the bright smart thing. 10 astound
1.-The teacher or confound the conven-
tlonal relative with the latest CATCH
word. but it is a mistake TO be too
smart Many people have been bit
terly sorry for the smart bright things
they have said, but comparatively few
have been sorry for not saying them.
Once the smart thing has escaped
you and sped TO its mark, it stands.
1t is an lndelible record Of your short
siehted, selfish, shallow mind. Only
the shallow mind allows it's tongue to
condemn it, The mind that thinks
through situation before expressing
itself seldom makes the mistake of
saving the wrong thing brilliantly.
Sharp, sparkling words hurt peo-
pie. People are hurt often enough in
the routine Of daily living, and they
resent unnecessary wounds, especially
from those to whom they look for
friendship, companionship and CO.
operation Nobody. and this applies
more particularly to the young than
To the rest Of us, can live successfully
without the cooperation of other peo-
* pie, beginning with those closest to
hs. II for no other reason, selfshness
should put guard on the tongue.
But there ought to be other reasons
quite as impelling for soft speaking,
for gentleness and consideration of
other folks opinions and feelings. At
lection, respect, love itself, should
make gentle ones manners and ones
speech. 1t is smart to be smart, but
1t Is smarter not to be too smart.
Cordially yours,
Angelo Patri.
! 'Copyriaht 1935.J