Evening Star Newspaper, January 2, 1921, Page 70

THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C.—ROTOGRAVURE SECTION—JANUARY AMONG US MORTALS The Very Shy Young Man By W. E. HILL Cupyright. 1920. New York Tribune luc About the darkest of dark moments in the life of a very shy young man is the plunge into a strange set of young people, who all know each other and have a full set of standing jokes based on past encounters. Joe, the strange young man, is doing his best not to look completely out of things while Harry asks: “H ow’s your old straw hat, Marjy?” completely convuls ng Marjy and her cohorts. Marjy will come back at Harry with the equally convulsirg =ally, “Fine; how's the Walla-Walla baby?” and there will be shrieks of merriment. When two lhi young men get together they have a terrible time. First one will point out the lights and decorations whi.e the other gives breathless attention, then both will start to say some- thing, then stop and beg each other's par- don and then there will be a long pause. Sooner or later one Morton has adopted the rough and boisterous to hide the shameful truth —for Morton is af- flicted with shyness. of them will discover that the other is shy and then he will begin to be awfully patron- izing and quite at his ease. Never leave a shy man alone with a childi—that is, if you want him to call again. Arthur can’t think of a thing to say to little Effie, not a thing. So little Effie, who hates a long pause and be- lieves in being frank even to brutality, has asked why Arthur has such a silly looking face. Of course Brownell doesn’t really look like this—even though it is his first suit of eve- ning clothes — but this is how he feels when he crosses the dancing floor at his first big party. Walter is getting into his trick suit pre- &erntnry to ushering at Mike’s wedding. alter is a shy and retiring soul and no one told him he would have to talk to all the old ladies he takes down the aisle. Besides, he has forgotten which arm you give them and which foot you start out with when the wedding march begins. The phone is ringing, and maybe Walter doesn’t hope it’s a message to say the church has burned down or the bride has measles or something. Once some kind-hearted person takes pity on a shy man and finally puts him at ease there’s no stopping him. He’ll talk and talk. and there’s no telling when he’ll go home. Oliver has heen walking The more shrinking a man around and around the is by nature the more he block. A timid man hates seems to attract ladies of to be conspicuous at a vamping proclivities. And gathering, and Oliver the more frightened: he didn’t want to be the first gets the vampier they arrival. But Oliver’s trip grow. Like a cat with a around the block has made mouse. him late, and now he's the last of the dinner guests to arrive, which is worse than being ahead of time!'