Page:Cyclopedia of illustrations for public speakers, containing facts, incidents, stories, experiences, anecdotes, selections, etc., for illustrative purposes, with cross-references; (IA cyclopediaofillu00scotrich).pdf/699

 If I knew a box that was large enough To hold all the frowns I meet, I would try to gather them, every one, From nursery, school, and street.

Then, folding and holding, I'd pack them in, And turn the monster key; I'd hire a giant to drop the box To the depths of the deep, deep sea.

(2982)

SMILING

In Brooklyn, two young women undertook to band together a smile club. In this club's membership may be included every one, everywhere, who is willing to pledge as many smiles as possible to make life generally happier. Here are some of the things required of members: "Radiate! Smile! Shine like a little sun! Begin each day anew, and begin it by smiling until you are in a good humor. Think only of the things you wish to possess or of what you desire to become, for thoughts are things. Have faith and your wishes will come true. Smile! And keep on smiling, and you will find that the happiness you have always been seeking is within yourself. Express this happiness." Surely no objection can be offered to the organizing of clubs of this sort, tho we need not necessarily join one to acquire and practise the smiling habit. It may be said of smile clubs and smiles, the more the merrier. As a popular post-card puts it: "Smile a while, and while you smile another smiles, and soon there are miles and miles of smiles because you smile." Grouches could not exist if every one was smiling. It's worth trying for a few days anyhow, just to see how well it works.

(2983)

Snob versus Gentleman—See.

SNOBBERY

A countryman had been to the city and went home brimful of news. "You 'member the Smiths?" he asked his wife, "the Silver Crik Smiths, them as got rich on the'r gran'feyther's money." Yes, she remembered them. "I seen 'em. They're way up; live in a gran' house on a street they call a thavenoo. They ride in a double kerridge, and have no end of money." She said she s'posed as much. "But, 'Mandy, you wouldn't want ter change places with her; I see her a minnit, and I didn't hev the heart to speak t'her. She's bin humbled right down to the dust. She's as blind as a bat." Blind! She guessed not. "But she is. Fust, she didn't know me, me that's rid down hill and played tag with her when she warn't knee-high to a turkey. Then, 'Mandy, tho her eyes was wide open, she went right along the streets, all drest up in her fine clothes, and a leetle mite of a dog was leading her along. He was tied to a streeng, and she had hold of t'other end of the streeng. Now, 'Mandy, how'd you like to be her?"—Detroit Free Press.

(2984)

SNOBBERY REBUKED

Social standing is not always a sign of moral worth, as the following story suggests:

"The late Francis Murphy," said a Pittsburg man, "perhaps the greatest temperance reformer our country has ever seen, hated snobbishness hardly less than drunkenness. At a dinner in Pittsburg I once heard him rebuke, with a little anecdote, a snobbish millionaire.

"He said there was a rich and snobbish English woman living in the country. Her husband put himself up for a political place, and in order to help his campaign along the woman gave a garden party to which every voter for miles around was invited.

"Among the humble guests was a very independent grocer. The grocer made himself quite at home. No duke's manner could have been easier and freer. Indeed, the man's total lack of subservience angered his hostess extremely, so that in the end, thinking to take him down a peg, she said to him significantly:

"'You know, Mr. Greens, in London, shopkeepers don't go into the best society.'

"The grocer looked at her, and nodded and smiled.

"They don't here, either, ma'am,' he said." (Text.)

(2985)

SOCIAL CHRISTIANITY

In other days when people did not have matches they were sometimes obliged to go to the neighbors for fire, if their own blaze went out. Usually a bunch of large knots were laid on the coals at night and then covered over with ashes until morning. But if the knots failed to burn, then the oldest child was usually sent to the neighbors with an iron kettle to borrow fire. Happy to be of use, the child soon returned with a kettle-*ful of bright coals and a blazing knot on top.

No man can live at his best who leads a