Lincoln High School - Cardinal Yearbook (Portland, OR)

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MES F. ELT PRINCIPAL

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Twenty-eightl THE LEDGER PERSONALITY By THE EDITOR Personality is a power of greater potentiality than the combined force of monstrous turbines. Yet it is but the component of a number of sim- ple qualities, the greatest of which is tact. Tact-the seed from which sprouts personality- is an art-the art of saying or doing the one thing which will appeal to the largest number of people. It begets friends, and friends beget fame, wealth, honor, and position. The manager of a million dollar firm must be a myriad of men, he cannot be himself. He cannot approach the capitalist and the machinist on the same terms. He must be the person to whom he is talking. He must be able to find a common meet- ing ground with everyone with whom he comes in contact. When amidst a group of people of dif- ferent stations in life, different tastes, and different amusements, he must find the one thing which is nearest to the hearts of all. The man with tact is always considered broad- minded-and that is the key to the problem of per- sonality. Tact is not a gift of the gods, as is so often imagined. Some persons cultivate it much earlier than others-quite unconsciously--and still others never cultivate it at all. They go through life railing at their star of ill-fortune that they are so unpopular and without any power of attraction. To cultivate a pleasing personality takes time- more time for some than for others, because many do not know exactly what they wish to cultivate. It is absolutely imperative that the man with per- sonality have tact, and that the man with tact have a broad and stable foundation upon which to draw at a moment's notice. This does not mean that personality is a studied, iron-bound, pedagogical set of rules, a scale with which one must weigh each word that he utters-or fail in his purpose. However, if one who knows of nothing but algebra, meets one who knows of nothing but foot- ball, will not their interview be fatiguing to both? On the other hand, if one who is intensely in- 'terested in algebra, but who also knows something of football, meets one who takes exceptional in- terest in football, but is also acquainted with alge- bra, and the one who is interested in algebra is wise enough to talk about football, andthe one who is interested in football is wise enough to talk about algebra, the two will part mutually gratified with the spirit of companionship formed. The logical starting place for cultivation of this power is high school, for here there are always numerous activities and varied interests that afford thing then for the high school student to do is to try to great opportunity for participation. The become well-balanced. He should endeavor to be- come neither a book worm, nor an athlete who has neglected his brains to develop his brawn. Personality partakes of the form of flattery, not the outright personal kind, but a more subtle, more likeable flattery-that of being interested in the things that the one with whom you are associated is interested in. li- HOTSTUFF EVELYN WHITE The fire gong ringsl A student yawns and scowls, disgruntled at being thus aroused from a nap in history or English. lVIary picks up her fountain pen and beloved vanity case, lazily rises, and saunters to the door to await the arrival of her best friend. If the spirit moves the classes, they may begin to meander to the nearest exitg if not, they wait until some teacher does the moving up for them. Now perhaps the entire class has at last strolled down the hall, chatting and laughing, immensely pleased that it can snatch a few minutes of the period. As much time as it is possible to waste is consumed in returning, because maybe Mary was the next to be called upon to recite. Fire drill was established for protection and safety. It should be executed in a manner that carries out this purpose. Can't we be a little more snappy in clearing the building? Remember, that some day we are likely to get our hair singed!