TO BE POPULAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 220, 17 September 1930, Page 12

TO BE POPULAR.

(By G. 'BERNARD HUGHES.)- " > This is-a question to which Du. Barry Cleopatra, i\ r cll Gwynn. and' Marie Antoinette probably gave a great deal of thought! ■ .".■■ ;. ; ; But never,lias anyone been'able to give a specific answer, so why not approacn it from a different angle arid ask, What makes a girl unpopular'/ V ■ i\o matted what other sterling ties she.may have,*she cannot lay even a distant claim to "popularity if ■ she Dt " " .■ v " , ' .• Not only selfish in the material things of life,, but of all, the \ undercurrents', of selfishness that mean bo much* and. comb so close to egotism,;-: , ■■ ■ '''.. ; .Bejng self-centred to, such. ari,.!cxtwit that she monoplises everyone's time by talking about herself and her. troubles is ; unforgivable. She 'must be a sympathetic listener if she wishes to be popular. '■■■ .'....' ■ Disagreeableness and surliness arc the dwarfed twin sisters of graciousness, and in spite of their tearful pleas they have yet to be included in one of. their lovely 'sisters , parties. . . = ,' 0 ; :■ The super-sensitive girl who is", for e\jer pushing Jje£ toes under someone's tcet and then disappeaving .with her liosu in the air, , .her lips quivering and;her heart a steaming. cauldi;on of bitterness', much to have .Constantly about,,. , . '•_;•-■ :• ■' '" ;) •■ ' ■' ' is itrtiiat a person witlia bad teiuper; can ■ control it among strangers, piily to let on her family Or, dearest friend ? Probably because the family and' friend arc understanding enou'gh to. forgive, while a. striihger won't be put* out. A vicious temper is a mild form of insanity that no. one can overlook.; ' . : ■/■"♦". ''• ..' ■■■■■■,'■ ." ' I But the. greatest secret of popularity lies in liking othel , ; people —then they can't'help liking you! ': ' A-person /withoutfliiws is not human. So realise that if Mary Jones has a fault yon dislike, you in turn have one that she (lislikcfe;- .':• ; . Ifslie is bad-iteriipercd, .'try your most dazzling smile on her, and if it doesn't work the first time,, try it again after she has had time to think it over and be ashamed* of herself-i i Don't lash back at the quick-tempered person. Smile at* her and say you are sorry even if you aren't and you'll have another helpless worshipper. Study people and know their shortcomings. When they manifest them m your presence, realise that they are only human and overlook them. Love them in spite of their faults. To be popularyyotu t must be beautiful. Yes. Biit real beauty comes from within our souls, and' to have it you must cultivate those same things within yourself. That's what makes a girl popular!