Little Rays of Sunshine
‘Alpha of the Plough’ wished that he had been born with the gift of a winning smile.
1924
King George V 1910-1936
‘Alpha of the Plough’ wished that he had been born with the gift of a winning smile.
1924
King George V 1910-1936
For many years, newspaper editor AG Gardiner wrote short essays for the Star under the pseudonym ‘Alpha of the Plough’. The following passage is taken from a reflection on the value of the smile, a reflection that ended with a warning. “Smiles,” he wrote, “like poets, are born, not made.”
Abridged
IF I were to be born into this world again and had the choice of my endowments I should arrange very carefully about my smile.
There is nothing so irresistible as the right sort of smile. It is better than the silver spoon in the mouth. It will carry you anywhere and win you anything, including the silver spoon. It disarms your enemies and makes them forget that they have a grudge against you. “I have a great many reasons for disliking you” said a well-known public man to a friend of mine the other day, “but when I am with you I can never remember what they are.”
It was the flash of sunshine that did for him. He could not preserve his hostility in the presence of the other’s disarming smile and gay good-humour. He just yielded up his sword and sunned himself in the pleasant weather that the other carried with him like an atmosphere.