GIRLS AND COMPLIMENTS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 174, 28 August 1914, Page 3

GIRLS AND COMPLIMENTS.

Not to value honest praise, not to enjoy the appreciation of one's fellows, to be indifferent to their good as to their ill-opinion, is less likely to be a mark of lofty superiority than of intense self-satisfaction.

Kindly people, friendly people, modest people, like to be praised. Phey find a compliment agreeable which is sincere and not and in one way or another they are pretty sure to manifest their pleasure in it. Often, however, they do so against their will, making all the time a poor pretence of indifference which they suppose to be demanded by modesty or politeness. Sometimes they go further, and insistently disclaim praise which* they cannot but know is fairly merited. Again, they giggle foolishly, or try waive the matter aside with an airy gesture and a laugh that does not ring true.

Girls especially, who are most likely to receive compliments, are least likely to receive them well. Often a pretty girl will destroy a delightful impression by her silly embarrassment at a few natural words of admiration J!or her youth and freshness. As she flushes and laughs, looks up and then down, and turns her head consciously aside, one feels that' there can be but little admirable about her except her beauty, if that is so important to her that a mere reference to it in her presence irtoves her so easily. Or a clever girl, who thinks it due to her reputation for cleverness to despise compliments, will repel, where she lias just attracted, by airs of poorly-acted disdain. There is no real difficulty in accepting a compliment. It is neither vain nor undignified, but rather gracious and becoming, to take pleasure in giving pleasure. Therefore, if a girl has given pleasure, either by her appearance or by her actions, and if some 1 one tells her of it, there is always something honest, simple, and suitable that she can say in reply, "I am glad that you were pleased," "I am glad you think I did well," or "I?am glad you approve of my work.'' There is no need either to disclaim or to assent to the praise uttered; therefore there is no reason why one should be embarrassed in its acceptance. Let everyone admire honestly, but let one also honestly receive admiration that is courteously and properly expressed. It is lovely to be loved, delightful to be admired, agreeable to be praised. This is what every girl feels, and what 110 girl need be ashamed franklv to acknowledge. She need be ashamed only if she magnifies a compliment, which is, after all, a trifle, into something sufficiently important to disconcert her, or rewards honest appreciation with insincerity and pretence.