NATURALNESS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 263, 30 June 1932, Page 7

NATURALNESS

KEYNOTE TO PERSON ALIT Y. I always think that Bersonality — ■ the effect of one human being upon another — is one of the niost curious things in the whole world. Everybody is attractive to somebody else; and judging eaeh one impartially, one sometimes secretly wonders — why ? From Napoleon to the merest waif of the streets the power of personality is manifest to varying extents. F'ew people can say how, though nearly all fall nnder the charm of its influence. It is difficult to aecount for this illusive gift which most of us all more or less hold. Are we attracted most by those qualities which we ourselves lack, or are we fascinated more greatly by a reflection of those which we inherently possess? Nobody will ever know. But one can draw some conclusions, and it is quite within limits to say that three-fourths of the secret of fascination in naturalness. "Naturalness is so rare and appeals so irresistibly to that human chord which vibrates within us all, that it will caver up a multitude of sins which the owner of such a gift might possess. It is easy .enough to be artificial, in fact, it needs no effort — just

a certain cleverness in copying, as it were, the exterior aspect of both looks and thoughts of others. It is the natural people who attract us — one hasn't got to pretend anything with them. They demand no 'stiquette, other than the etiquette of doing and thinking exactly what they please. You will all agree what a rest it is to meet such a person after the extreme artificialities of most things. If you come to think of it, you will find that nearly all great personalities are extraordinarily natural men and women. Their greatness lies in their ability to be perfectly themselves in a world where people are more than content to be like somebody else. A "pretty" woman cannot hold her charm for others if she has no personality to back her up, for even the "ugly duckling" of the family will outshine her, given a personality powerful enough. It takes courage to be natural at times in a world of unnaturalness, but then, remember, humanity adores courage. To be simply oneself is one of the greatest achievements to gain. An artificial person is one of the greatest trials of life — the worst of it is that they make you artificial too. There is nothing quite so catching as a pose, especially when you have to put up with it from an instinct of social politeness, and a second-hand "pose" is far worse than an original one. a Simplicity is a virtue that so many of us lack and is a great charm to social intercourse; not only does this apply socially, but it also applies to fashion. A simply, well-dressed person is a smart and commanding figure and even in clothes does personality add its individual touch. There are people while acknowledging the axiom that "one touch of Nature makes the whole world kin," nevertheless regard the "touch of Nature," when they meet it, as a positive olfence. I wonder why? Yours, etc., MARY -ANNE .