JUDICIOUS FLATTERY.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 87, 31 May 1879, Page 2

JUDICIOUS FLATTERY.

Judicious flattery may be the most sincere homage in the world ; but what renders it judicious is its opportuneness and the maimer of presenting it. A j udiciouperson flatters his neighbours even in his mode of greeting them. The " How d'ye •io ? So glad to see you," in one person's mouth, is perfectly different from the self-same salutation in the mouth of another. At least the effect produced is different. One person shall make you feel that he is really glad to see you ; a second lets you discern that he does not dare a straw one .way or the other; while a third betrays the fact that he regards his unexpected .-neouuter with you as rather a bore. The last is <t detestable fellow ; tho seoond is a nice person ; but the first everybody pronounces to be charming. It does not follow that he is very greatly gratified at your presence ; but without an effort, ho causes you to think so. He goes on ta say how long it is since he saw you, how well you are looking, and how marvellously young. You know that you have been rather out of sorts of late, and you have noticed, with eyes of anxiety, that the grey hairs are rapidly beginning to preponderate over the brown. Nevertheles , you accept his zheerful assurance as u mitigation of your melancholy diagnosis, and almost as a proof of the inaccuracy of your own observation, and even of your own feelings. He has made you feel younger, and almost fancy that you look younger. He is a judicious flatterer, probably without knowing it. The amiable estimate he forms of your person he also intuitively arrives at concerning your mind, your belongings, and your possessions.

Is he insincere ? Not in the least. He believes what he says, more or loss. Perhaps he heightens the colouring, but there is a just foundation for all bis pleasant speeches. He is an amiable person, who wishes to please by being pleased. He puts you m good humour with yourself; and when he leaves you, you feel raised in your own esteem, imperceptibly, and without quite knowing why. The most judicious flattery consists in manner rather than words. Women have this gift sometimes to perfection. You think them oharmiug, because they have conversed with you as though you your.elf were charming. Judicious flattery is one of the necessities of life, as nocussary as air, food, or water. By Mattery, we do nut mean the pi verso of what is true; but, on tho contrary, either what is obviously true, or what, by a little charitable interpretation, may be surmisod to

be so. As a rale, people who never praise are of a churlish disposition, while judicious flatterers are invariably goodnatured.—Truth.