WHAT IS IT THAT ATTRACTS YOU?

Otago Witness, Issue 3993, 23 September 1930, Page 62

WHAT IS IT THAT ATTRACTS YOU?

If all the virtues and all the gifts in the world were put in a long row’, and all the men in the world were asked to choose which of all these it was that most attracted them in a girl, I think they would nearly all of them choose laughter. ‘■Born with a gift of laughter, and the sense that the world is mad.’ - There is a charm about that, a charm that does not depend upon looks or wit, nor beautiful voice nor taste in dress —the gift of laughter is the gift of youth, and it is always that which attracts a man, for it stands for all the sweetness and charm of a sunny nature that appeals to all the world.

Years are nothing, you can have lines on your face, but who cares if those lines are lines of happiness? I heard a man say that of a woman once. “ No, not pretty, but she has something better than that, she has lines on her face, the Channing lines of laughter.”

That is what attracts us so, Honoria, not the set grin, nor the “ I-must-look-happy-though-it-is-obvious-that-I’m-not ” smile, but that spontaneous laughter that comes from a knowledge that life is wonderful, and that there are so many surprises about it that if one can’t laugh at the present, then one can laugh in happy anticipation of the future.

The girl with the happy face is on the high road towards love and popularity and eternal youth. Of course, Honoria, there are those sober people, usually I am sorry to say of your fair sex, who say that a sense of responsibility takes away laughter, but that is absurd, for surely one can be fully aware of one’s responsibilities, from being the mainstay of the home to looking after four children, without shutting our laughter. One can be happy over one’s responsibilities, and you so often find that the happiest people are the busiest. * * «

Then there are young girls who worry just to create an impression. Oh, you needn’t look surprised; it’s true, unfortunately! They love to pretend that they are such busy people, they like a man to think that it’s really a worry to keep all their engagements. That little frown of worry or of boredom (oh, such a life! Engagements are becoming a bore!) or of blase indifference. (It’s quite a nuisance being stared at like this for my good looks). There are (so many girls who think those expressions are attractive to men. They like men to think them worldly; it’s funny how many girls think they can’t look worldly without looking bored! They think that if they look thrilled or excited when a man takes them out he will think that they’ve never had a good time before in their lives. On the contrary, I’m an ordinary man, Honoria, and what I feel I suppose most men feel, and that is just a little flattered if a girl looks happy and excited when I take her out. A happy face, and a happy disposition is such a delightful companion for a work-tired man.

“ Born with a gift of laughter.”

You girls can make far more success of your life by laughing through it; you can keep your youth longer, and you can depend upon it that a hundred per cent, of the men you meet will fall for you rather than your very beautiful,

very smart, but very blase young friend. Laughter is bewitching, Honoria.— Home Chat.