FEMININE REFLECTIONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 397, 4 July 1928, Page 5

FEMININE REFLECTIONS

THE VERY ADAPTABLE WOMAN WHO ENJOYS HER CONQUESTS On first acquaintance, everyone is perfectly charmed by Vera’s supersensitive regard for other people’s Interests. There is no denying that she is a marvellously spontaneous “mixer” in the most heterogeneous gathering. With exquisite art she singles out the difficult individuals of -whom less socially gifted folks fight shy. The habitually inarticulate become almost voluble under the provocative influence of her inspired overtures. In fact, her genius for establishing sympathetic conversational contacts is sheer wizardry. But when acquaintance ripens, and one gets to know Vera better, the bloom is rubbed off the charm. Because she is so very much aware of her powers. And she affects a peevish resentment against the shy or the simple, whom she has exerted herself to entertain. Obviously it is the merest affectation; an attitude adopted to underline her social gifts lest they should have escaped one’s notice. For Vera thoroughly enjoys her conquests even the humblest of them. Not content therewith, she must pat her own back perpetually in the presence of those with whom she does not trouble to pose. “One gets so weary of being always the adaptable one,” she sighs. “It would be such a refreshing change to be permitted an occasional exchange of roles. It’s really remarkable how self-centred people are! It would be quite a wonderful experience for me to come up against someone who was at pains to discover mg interests, and turn the Two days of more Bargains at Marriott’s, next Friday and Saturday. 1*

talk into my channels now and again. But It never happens that way. Invariably I have to sink my own individuality and flatter the susceptibilities of others.” Candid friends are inclined to assure her that she is undej- no such obligation. That if she exercises her inherent social gifts it is not wholly an altruistic gesture, but very largely a gratification of her own overweening amour-propre. Her popularity both as guest and hostess—with strangers who have not found her out -—-is the most stimulating joy she knows. Yet she makes it a pretended ground of complaint. Sooner or later she will give herself away on every hand. And too-easily-

won gooodwill will be increasingly forfeited by the vanitarian indiscretion of those subsequent outbursts. All-round adaptability can be a lovely thing. But the moment it degenerates from a selfless grace to popularity-seeking self-gratification, all the virtue goes out of it.‘Vera has yet to learn that, in any social encounter of the kind she specialises in, there is giving on both sides, however pronounced the line of demarcation between brilliance and ordinariness. Brilliance sucks up the homage of ordinariness with voracious zest. But rarely admits the fact. And Vera Is pre-eminently in that arrogant category. S.H.