FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1928. NOTES AND COMMENTS

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 3230, 22 June 1928, Page 4

FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1928. NOTES AND COMMENTS

MAKING ALLOWANCES

" 'Malic allowances' may seem to be a very simple rule of life, but in my experience there are feAv people who even attempt to apply it," says Mr J. D. Bercsford, in the Daily Chronicle. '' When anyone annoys us by criticism, disagreement, or, it may be, by direct insult, the last thing avc think of is to make alloAvance for his temperament, circumstances or education. What Aye instantly and passionately desire is the affirmation and asseveration of our own point of view; never an intelligent, much less a sympathetic, understanding of the point of view of our critic. This is, of course, essentially illogical. To insult the nian Avho has just insulted you is to imitate his fault. To defend ourselves on the ground that it is only 'human nature' is to beg the same question. The applications of my little lesson have, moreover, a far Avlder scope than in the little day-to-day relations Avith our acquaintances. 1. have lived in France for four years, and have come to some sort of understanding of what avc call 'racial antagonisms.' The French cannot understand us, nor Aye them, because neither side ever attempts to make allowance for the difference in blood and training. And from failures of that kind arise most of the suspicions and ill-faith that may finally set two nations drifting into the horrors of war. To make allowances for one's fellow-creatures, in short, indicates the attempt to understand them, and I rather think that that is the greatest lesson life can teach any one of us."