BE A GOOD LISTENER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 59, 3 April 1909, Page 3

BE A GOOD LISTENER.

| A SECRET Ob 1 IJOITLARITY,1 J OITLARITY, \ 'l'll.' woman who believes that the ■iceret of popularity lies in the ability I to talk bri'J'mntly makes a mistake. The mystery of popularity* is due to the -kill in making others -talk more, than in talking yourself (says a writer in a Home paper). 1 have heard many a man exclaim owr a young woman whom he had just mot and had a few minutes' conversation with. "L liked .that girl. She was ill right " when "that girl" had wisely listened graciously while the man told her all about himself. 1 have seen girls struggle along wondering why they were not "universally liked until it isuddeiilv occurred t<« them to stop talking, to fitop making witty .speeches, and listen to the commonplaces of others. Then • they found a struggle no longer miecsv sary, ami were voted "charming." DECIDED OPINIONS ARE FATAL, i The majority of men would rather talk brilliantly than listen i to the brilliant eonvvrnatiou of a "woman. | A maTi will soon run away from a woman whose intellect lie cannot help but admire and devote himself to that woman who hangs on his words and acts a little bit like a worshipper. Middle-aged women will pronounce a young 'woman as ■'delightful'' when «he Hatters them by asking for advice, listens to their remarks about "when I was n girl.'' and only thrown in u word 'oecLYsini tally. Decided o))inions, or rather the expression of decided opinions, is fatal to popularity. If a young woman has very pronounced idea*s about anything under the sun let her keep them to herself. She may shape her life according to her views, but let her beware of an expression of them, A woman is much more loved if flie expresses sympathy with the ideas of others than if she exploits., what she thinks herself. TALKED TOTTERY UY THE HOUR. I A man is far more likely to be fascinated bv a woman who will lend hint her 1 ear than by the one who uws her tongue too fluently, j I was taking the rest-cure at a Continental spa. A millionaire arrived during •my second week, and 1 was amused at. watching the dead-set made at him "by the feminine circle. To our general amazement he eventually proposed to the plainest girl there, one whom we should have supposed to be the very btfil with any chance of captivating him. Something she said to .lie (in eonlidcnce) just before the wedding threw a good ileal of light on the matter. "1. 'have only one g'tV -ho slid. "I am a good listener. 1 soon discovered that there was only one subject he was interested in and could talk about—an'•ient potlerv. The others wouldn't let him bore them; \ did. lie talked pottery •"o me by the hour, mid I never let him <ee that it didn't interest me in the least." That wn*s the. key to one marriage at least. The poor man had a hobby, aud ho wandered about looking for a listener. When he found one he married her.