s in the afterglow or the glorious pallor of the clouds. Advertising
managers are apt to be insufficiently appreciative of these things.
Sometimes, when they are closeted with the Boss in conference, open the
ground-glass door and say, "I think it is going to rain shortly." Carry
your love of the beautiful into your office life. This will inevitably
pave the way to simplification.

ENVELOPES WITH LOOP HOLES

And never open envelopes with little transparent panes of isinglass in
their fronts. Never keep copies of your correspondence. For, if your
letters are correct, no copy will be necessary. And, if incorrect, it is
far better not to have a copy. If you were to tell me the exact nature
of your work I could offer many more specific hints.

YOUR INQUIRY, CHILD, TOUCHES MY HEART

I am intimately interested in your problem, my child, for I am a great
believer in simplification. It is hard to follow out one's own precepts;
but the root of happiness is never to contradict any one and never agree
with any one. For if you contradict people, they will try to convince
you; and if you agree with them, they will enlarge upon their views
until they say something you will feel bound to contradict. Let me hear
from you again.

TO AN UNKNOWN DAMSEL

On Fifth Street, in a small cafe,
Upstairs (our tables were adjacent),
I saw you lunching yesterday,
And felt a secret thrill complacent.

You sat, and, waiting for your meal,
You read a book. As I was eating,
Dear me, how keen you made me feel
To give you just a word of greeting!

And as your hand the pages turned,
I watched you, dumbly contemplating--
O how exceedingly I yearned
To ask the girl to keep you waiting.

I wished that I could be the maid
To serve your meal or crumb your cloth, or
Beguile some hazard to my aid
To know your verdict on that author!

And still you read. You dropped your purse,
And yet, adorably unheeding,
You turned the pages, verse by verse,--
I watched, and worshiped you for reading!

You know not what restraint it took
To mind my etiquette, nor flout it
By telling you I know that book,
And asking what you thought about it.

I cursed myself for being shy--
I longed to make polite advances;
Alas! I let the time go by,
And Fortune gives no second chances.

You read, but still your face was calm--
(I scanned it closely, wretched sinner!)
Y