A DAILY MESSAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1929, Page 1

A DAILY MESSAGE

THE PEOPLE WHOM NOBODY TRUSTS “Wiiat’s the shape of the earth?” asked the teacher, calling suddenly on little Willie. “ Round.” “How do you know it’s round?” “All right,” said - Willie, “it’s square. 1 don’t want to start any argument about it.” There arc many hig “Willies” in Hie community, male and (female. When little Willie grows up, lie’ll join them, for a little clmp always grows up into a hig chap of the same type. Tile chief mission in life of the “little Willie ” type appears to h.e to avoid any argument about anything. They have no convictions or principles,* except the conviction that “it doesn’t pay to argue,” and that is the first article of their daily creed, to which they adhere with a determination worthy of a hotter cause. If you doubt it. try it on the first one you meet. You may assert with confidence that the obviously square is round, the obviously crooked is straight, the obviously good is had. lie’ll agree! You see, he hasn’t any convictions on these things. He lias a conviction on one thing only, and that is that it doesn't pay to argue—so lie doesn’t. The destructive effect of this perpetual adaptation to the other fellow’s point of view not lie very apparent for the first few years.

As a matter of fact the argument avoider will probably he considered an unusual social success—for a while. “ One who never makes one uncomfortable at one’s parties,” etc. “ One who fits in beautifully with every situation,” our hostess explains. “So nice! ”

But wait just a few more years, and such persons have become colourless, characterless, twisting, pitiful, shufflers, whom nobody ever consults, trusts, depends on, confides in; for everybody knows them as the people whom nobodv trusts.

And nobody argues about the justice of the condemnation. They always said “ it doesn’t pay to argue,” and so. if they have any friends left—they don’t! —M. PRESTON STANLEY