Tárogató, 1940-1941 (3. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1940-07-01 / 1-2. szám
TÁROGATÓ 15 a bank-note, which tangibly proved the genuineness of those words of sympathy. Sorry—how much? Sorry enough to help, even at the cost of some personal comfort or convenience? Sorry enough to put yourself in the place of him who suffers or lacks? Sympathy is aptly defined as “two hearts tugging at one load.” I like that way of puting it. We may not have the money or the means with which to help our needy friend as we would like, but we can offer that which may be worth infinitely more to him. We can have a heart that understands, and a love that acts accordingly. Seeing his loss( struggle, or up-hill climb, we can get into the harness with him and help tug at his load. We can say by word and deed, “I care.” Then we will be truly proving how sorry we are, and how much we really care. Let’s Be Courteous By Mary Dale Muir Like so many other beautiful things in human relationships, the finest courtesy is so unobtrusive that it attracts very little attention. Perhaps only the recipient of the courtesy and those who accidentally witness the act know anything of it. I was sitting in the street-car one afternoon—not an overiy-crowded car —when a elderly couple came in. There was no double seat vacant and the lady sat down beside a young girl. Her elderly companion stood by her to talk.1 He looked tired. At the next stop the young girl quietly excused herself, moved out and forward as if she were leaving the car. Then she sat down again in another vacant seat a little farther ahead. There was no real sacrifice involved in the act, but it was one of such thoughtfulness and done so quietly that it did not even get the reward of a “Thank you.” I do not think the elderly gentleman even noticed. It’s rather curcious the power of courtesy. I have often watched in a crowded streetcar or store how easily any one who uses a persuasive “Excuse me,” instead of a prodding elbow, gets through the crowd. It is only natural that people should bow to gentleness and resist force. This fact is seen very clearly with young children. There is one home in which I visit where the children, five and seven-year-olds,, are treated with the same courtesy as their parents show one another and their friends and the result is very pleasant. Quite accidentally last time I was there, his sister dropped the spade on young Tom’s foot. It must have hurt, at least, for the moment, ‘Oh, I’m sorry, Tom,” said Betty. “Doesn’t matter,” said Tom. “It was an accident. Doesn’t hurt.” The incident was over and done with. , Notably courteous and considerate are our King and Queen, who move with such simplicity and naturalness among their people, and who, at the end of a long and tiresome day in Toronto, spent over threequarters of an hour, instead of the seven minutes alloted, talking and shaking hands with the wounded soldiers in Christie Street Hospital. After all it is no wonder that the courteous get about with a pleasantness that no “pusher and shover” ever does. In its highest form, courtesy is really lovingkindness, consideration for |the “other fellow,” appreciation of his point of view and recognition of the fact that he has the same rights and feelings as the rest of us. From “Canadian Boy.” ENDURING VALUES IN RURAL. LIFE Thomas Jefferson “Let the farmer for evermore be honored in his calling; for they who labor in the earth are the chosen people of God.” Theodore Roosevelt “If there is one lesson taught by history, it is that the permanent greatness of any state must ultimately depend more upon the character of its country ‘population than upon anything else. No growth of cities, no growth of wealth, can make up for loss in either the number or the character of the farming population.” From a letter to Liberty Hyde Bailey in 1908.
