Biters and Bitten

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23997, 21 June 1941, Page 18

Biters and Bitten

By AUDREY ARGALL

FLAG days are regarded b.\ many as <»ne of the minor e\iU <»l war. though I am not piling ing into an argument thereon. It is sufficient that the Flag Day is here ; and one gives and grins and hears it, —or one collects, and grins and bears it. This is how it teels to In* on the inside of the business, as it wen*. The 'phone rings; 1 firmly anil mistrust■fully resist all blandishments from the other end. "No, 1 am not free to sell Hugs next week, thank you." Hut the National Benefit confirmed by FlagSellers is painted in nfinbow line until 1 weaken slightly; my particular attribute- for this type ot work are unfolded. and the suit \«<iee gushes o\«-r my well-known charm of manner until 1 am so overwhelmed that 1 meekly acquiesce. Behold me then, a tew days later, standing on a cold and windy corner rattling my little box with an ingrat-

iating smile. There are> various types of flag-sellers. There are the shy ones who slink around secreting their boxes as though nefariously engaged. There are strong-minded ones who make the fiagless passer-by. "short ol change ' or otherwise ineligible, leel a positive criminal; there are pretty girl-, to whom the preening male gives gladly, and there are dour females, to whom tin public gives sadly.

Now for the other side of the question. To get the best results you must attack the matter in an intelligent manner, psycho-analyse it, so to speak Waste no time over unlikelies, but concentrate upon easy prey, after making a rough classification. Never pass a man in tweeds, unless someone has already fleeced iiim! Business men are a gamble; they may have an important appointment or a grand contempt. If. however, you can round up a prosperous covey and collect from one the rest will be increasingly generous, in a fine spirit of coni|>etition. Extremely smart young women are a waste of time from your point of view, and leave you rattling an empty box and acutely conscious that your nose is shiny and your stockings are crooked Then too, avoid women with

The Psychology of Flag-days

very young children. These having recently contributed something wonderful to the world, are filled with blissful .superiority and lee! that they have done their hit. Nor are women with dyed hair lucrative, though the genuine harridan is often conspicuously generous—a nice point that I leave to the psychologist. On the other hand, little shabby women will voluntarily seek you, and you accept from them reluctantly, fearing that there are sons or nephews already dragging at their slender resources. It you are. wholeheartedly for the cause, park yourself near it hotel been use the more I'liiliarryssiny ly inebriated your clients the more lelight11111\ generous they become. . And alter all, it's lor a good cause, isn't n ' On the other hand, avoid being dragged into ;i. lengthy argument, and for the same reason edge away from cranks, hot-tempers and would-he-advi-ers. Finally we ask ourselves whv we spend a day thus miserably employed, when, as my friend the Socialist points out, just a small extra tax. . . That is the point' A compulsory tax may he less trouble, hut when forced from us we should inevitably grudge anil question it. Perhaps few of u.s actually enjoy being parted from our sixpences or shillings. but the extractions are spread out. and we can endure it. Moreover, I think that there is still a strong spirit of generosity in the world, and each time we contribute our mite on a flag day it is in the consciousness that we know and approve the cause.